Need You Now

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

-Psalm 23:1-3

Most recently, I've found that I've been spiritually deprived. The lack of a home congregation in Massachusetts has bothered me, and I've been fixated more on grades than on what God's revealing to me through my classes. Though I've been leading a small service group, I haven't been spiritually leading, and I've let my friends down because of this. I asked God to provide me with time to just shut out everything that I've made an idol and to, instead, rejuvenate my [spiritual] life through focusing on Him.

This prayer He answered. Just not in the "conventional" way (i.e. spring break, a quiet Sabbath, etc.).

I have several medical issues. Three that recently decided to appear (or reappear) simultaneously the week before spring break. I was in such bad health that for the past couple weeks I did not have enough energy to leave my apartment (I could barely get up from my bed to get a glass of water). This, however, provided me with enough downtime for God to infiltrate the thoughts and actions that I previously removed from His influence.

He is good. He answers prayer, He displays His love, and He is always loyal. He loves us in the most unique ways, He always keeps us on our toes, and never allows us to ever have a dull moment. Though I once considered being healthy as a blessing, I found that being sick was what saved me.

Thank God for His power and sense of humor. Who would have ever assumed that two weeks in bed would have been two of the most blessed weeks of someone's life?

My Savior My God

My apologies for not updating my blog as I originally had planned--as I originally had promised.

There are times when I hear something so splendid, so blessed, so perfectly planted by God and instead of writing about them, I'll put them on a post-it and shove them to the side.

Those actions are wrong, and with prayer, they'll be corrected!

Here is what God is putting on my heart...

As of recent, I talked to my brother about God and His strength. Through God's infinite strength, He has been able to guide me in my finite understanding. For example, I was not a strong enough person to be as God intended for me to be while attending my first school, Ichabod Crane, so instead, God moved me to Loudonville Christian, where I was able to give my heart to Him and dedicate my life to loving Yeshua. My brother, on the other hand, needed Ichabod in order to learn endurance, perseverance, and overcome many of his own faults. Because of the two different schools we have built relations with people that have directly impacted our futures.

Though the entire conversation was "deep" (as described by my brother, Will), the part that stuck with me the most was when Will struggled with saying that it was God that got him through everything. William acknowledged that the word God is used by so many people, for so many reasons, that his God (or his personal relationship with God) was not being accurately described when he used the word "God" to describe what he knows to be True. "God" could mean everything and nothing to anyone who hears it.

How can we go about our day more fully understanding what we mean when we used the word "God"? How can we revive the understanding of the true, infinite, and sacrificial Lord? Do we understand what we're saying when we throw around words such as "Elohim," "Jehovah," "Lord," "Father," "Jesus/Yeshua"?

What does God mean to you? Is there just one truth and one understanding behind the word God, or are there different meanings and realities for one spiritual Truth?

Challenge yourself today by understanding what God means, who God is, and how He affects/has affected you.

yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

1 Corinthians 8:6

One Day

My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight

Psalm 3:1-6

Club DTO, composed of Gordon and other college students, is up and running :)

This year we will be working at Salem Cyberspace, a place where children of immigrant families can congregate for community processing and computer access. Different tutoring options are available, as well as the opportunity to take a variety of classes (at the volunteers' discretion).

In order to start off our partnership with Salem Cyberspace, I was sent as the Gordon representative/OT leader. On my way to a place that I have never been, in a car that I have never driven in (that is owned by Gordon), I ran into plenty-a-problem.

First off, a person hit my car after being on the road for 5 minutes.

Second, my directions were wrong.

Third, as assumed by my second point, I got lost.

By this time, I was on the phone with my boss from Gordon for the fourth time in less than thirty minutes.

What she reminded me is that sometimes the journey may become long, but don't get discouraged by the journey, itself. Instead, stay focused on the path that God has created, for in the end, it can only lead to Him.

>>Truth.

I eventually got there. The meeting went well.

Can't wait to see what God's got planned for us in the near future :)

Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.

Deuteronomy 8:2

Awe-Struck

Domenico Feti's Ecce Homo

(in English)

"All this I did for you, what are you doing for Me?"

Worlds Apart

MISSIONARY OF THE MOMENT:

WILLIAM BORDEN (OF YALE)

"No reserves. No retreats. No regrets."

(the following passage is not my own, and has been borrowed from course documents in the class, "Foundations for Global Christianity 215," of Gordon College)

Yale graduate and heir to great wealth, rejected a life of ease in order to bring the gospel to Muslims. Refusing even to buy himself a car, Borden gave away hundreds of thousands of dollars to missions. In 1912, he joined China Inland Mission. He sailed first to Cairo, Egypt to study Arabic. After only four months of zealous ministry in Egypt, he contracted spinal meningitis and died at the age of twenty-five. The epitaph on Borden's grave, after describing his love and sacrifices for the kingdom of God and for Muslim people, ends with "Apart from faith in Christ, there is no explanation for such a life."

When You Say Nothing At All

It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.

3 John 1:3

http://www.toms.com/blog/content/voice-change

Sometimes being God's children means that we literally have to

walk in faith.

My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; the one whose walk is blameless will minister to me.

Psalm 101:6

Living Prayer

you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:5

Living Prayers in my life:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLZAWtdFhio&feature=related

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Romans 12:1

This Week the Trend

I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you;
I will praise your name, LORD, for it is good.

PSALM 54:4

I felt so blessed after listening to this song.

Just knowing that other citizens out there desire more moral cleanliness, and goodness in general, is refreshing!

Enjoy :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAUMU3QQE6w

Maintain Consciousness

And because of my chains,

most of the brothers and sisters

have become confident in the Lord

and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel

without fear.

Philippians 1:14

What chains have you bore

that has led someone

to become more

confident in proclaiming the gospel?

Worthy of Affection

Turn, O Lord, deliver my life;

save me for the sake of your steadfast love.

Lord, O gracious God,

the magnalia Dei reveals Your loving-kindness.

I pray that my tears and my weeping are the result of Your mercy.

Evil stands no chance with You as our Father and Redeemer.

O Lord my God, in you do I take refuge;

save me from all my pursuers and deliver me,

lest like a lion they tear my soul apart,

rending it in pieces, with none to deliver.

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;

I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

(Psalms 6:4b, 7:1-2, 9:1)

Here We Are

“A man finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word!”- Proverbs 15:23

When you feel called to say something that glorifies the Lord, say it.

When you feel the urge to do something selflessly for the Lord, do it.

When you feel the love of God pressing on your heart, respond.

If God's leading you, go.

Bad Days Better

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”

- Psalm 27:14

The other morning while I was contemplating over several events in my life that seemingly came at the "perfect time," God provided me with this verse.

God is always good. He is always great with being our best friend, encouraging us every step along the way. He is always wonderful in regards to His act of Husbandry, being the very Rock that we all need. He is always the Superior Father, comforting us when we are lost, hurt, or confused, and guiding us in His best plan.

The verse above does not mean that God is not near, thus we must wait for Him to "catch up." God is always walking with us in life. What God has revealed to me through this verse is that we need to wait until our eyes are opened to the greatness that He has laid before us. He will always reveal more of His plan in HIS perfect time. We must be encouraged by His goodness to know that He has so much more going on "behind the scenes," so that in the best of times and in the worst of times He's got something fantastic up His sleeve.

Like a mother anxiously anticipating the birth of her firstborn, a runner anticipating the finish line, or a painter looking forward to her completed work, sometimes all it takes is a little waiting to see His perfect glory and presence revealed.

Offering

Recently, I have engaged with my brother apartment in conversations relating to complacency on campus. I've found myself frustrated by the lack of drive and true passion to seek out the Lord, and to lay down everything that we have to follow Him. We've recognized that in a community of Christians it can sometimes be difficult to seek what needs to be done for the Kingdom, since essentially, we've created a Commonwealth.

I've learned that I've neglected so much of what God is doing in my heart and life. My soul is not thirsting for Him, but instead I've remained delusional and assume my "cup is always full" since I'm a Bible major, I'm required to go to chapel, and there are so many opportunities on campus for "spiritual uplift and education." I haven't recognized how dry our campus can be when we're swimming in seemingly mandatory Christian activities that don't necessarily contribute to our understanding of true faith. Though there may be tons of opportunities to build in our faith by helping out a boys and girls club, developing organic gardening capabilities and techniques, working on revolutionary research in the science labs, or taking classes in the mountains in order to develop spiritual leadership skills while backpacking, being involved in these activities doesn't suggest that we're giving everything to Him in order to broaden His Kingdom, it just suggests that we're surrounded by over a thousand extremely intelligent twenty-something year olds that have seemingly endless opportunities laying at our feet.

What can we do to truly give up everything in order to follow Him? What truly great things is HE calling us to? Are we participating in these activities to merely build our resume or to actually live ALL FOR HIM?

O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.

Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.

I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.

-Psalm 63:1-4

Gullible

Most recently one of my professors made our class keep a "time diary" for a week. We were assigned to write down every activity that we participated in, and keep track of how our time was spent through using an analysis method prescribed by the Docta (Dr. Hothem, that is).

Dr. Hothem made us write a follow-up on the results of our data. Everyone was supposed to get something deep and meaningful out of the way that we spent our past week, participating in activities that we "normally" would do if it wasn't being documented.

Fortunately, I learned a lesson.

I found out that even though I find myself spending huge amounts of time studying and participating in fellowship through a holistic mindset (meaning that all aspects of my life are considered "leisure"--my only obligation is to love the Lord with all my heart and body; everything I do is centered around my Savior), I spend a very minimal amount of time one-on-one with God. At first glance at the calculations for the analysis part of our assignment, my response to my own participation was that it was pathetic. What if I treated my earthly husband the way that I responded to Christ this week?-- it helped to make me become more self-aware. How could it be that I only spent approximately 5 hours per week intentionally drawing closer to my Lord when I was spending approximately 26 hours per week participating in "quality study time" in relation to academics? I assumed that the immense amount of time I spend studying to be a missionary and talking about missionary work, somehow equated (and replaced) prayer and devotional time. My bad.

The assignment reminded me that even if we take life through a holistic, God-centered approach, that doesn't mean that we're spending ["enough"] quality time with our Savior. Personally, I am very glad that God was able to use my time diary to help me refocus on my time with Him. I cannot wait to see what is to come of this realization.

How is He calling you to spend time with Him daily?

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

-Ephesians 3:14-19

Vision of You

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

-2 Corinthians 13:14

Understanding the Trinity can be a complex process.

My family's priest, Father Jack, explained the Trinity extremely well through using the excellent visual given to us by St. Augustine, while adjusting it ever-so slightly:

(>>the original

And when St. Augustin beheld him he marvelled, and demanded him what he did. And he answered and said: "I will lade out and bring all this water of the sea into this pit."

"What?" said he, "it is impossible, how may it be done, sith the sea is so great and large, and thy pit and spoon so little?"

"Yes, forsooth," said he, "I shall lightlier and sooner draw all the water of the sea and bring it into this pit than thou shalt bring the mystery of the Trinity and His Divinity into thy little understanding as to the regard thereof; for the Mystery of the Trinity is greater and larger to the comparison of thy wit and brain than is this great sea unto this little pit."

<<)

There was a little boy playing in the sand by the sea. The boy made a pit in the sand and would collect water from the sea to place in the pit. Once there was enough water pressure, the water would trickle down as a stream back to the ocean.

God is like water. He can be the ocean (Father), the water in the pit (Jesus), and the water flowing down the stream (Holy Spirit) simultaneously. Yet, He is still water--the properties still staying appropriate to the bonding of many water molecules. He is God, and He is everywhere, all at once.

Just as Augustine mentioned, our understanding of the Trinity is above our understanding. However, through God's own creation He is able to reveal even more of His divinity.

Aish Tamid

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise. Psalm 111:10

One aspect of commercialized Christianity (due to Marcion influence) that I have come to realize is that there is a lot of ignorance in reference to what God has to say--namely in relation to most of the Old Testament. Also, whenever beliefs about the New Testament are challenged, we tend to question not only other beliefs attached to the belief in question (that is--if you're "thinking Greek"--see Marv Wilson's notes on this), but we tend to doubt the very existence of our Creator and Redeemer.
But what do we have to worry about?
May we embark on a journey together through the Old Testament?!

Has not Abraham been the best example of a man chosen, not because of who he is, but because of whom God desires for him to become? Was it not for Abraham's faith that we exist today?

Did Joseph (of Jacob) not fully teach the lesson on what it means to count it all joy?

Did Jacob not show us how to love our spouses to the fullest potential, working 14 years for his wife Rachel, saying that it felt as if it were merely days, rather than years, for that was how in love he was with her.

--Theses are just three examples from ONE of the THIRTY NINE books in the original canon!

The Bible will stand its own--We don't have to worry about "making it real" or "proving it's true."

God proves His existence daily, even without our help.

Yeshua

Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

-Isaiah 46:4

I was talking to a very, very dear friend of mine on the phone this evening. The call was very encouraging, and very much so edifying. But one part of the conversation stood out to me in particular.

At one point she gave me a disclaimer. She said that the following words that she will speak she will one day regret, and that these thoughts and ideas aren't very "Christian."

Aren't very Christian? What is the Church teaching us? That Christians aren't HUMAN?

When she was done discussing how she currently felt about a life situation, she continued on to another conversation. I stopped her from progressing further, and asked her if we could take a step back. I let her know that how she was feeling was most definitely Christian--for she is 100% Christian, and 100% human. We then talked about the fall briefly, and we reminded each other that God will show us the good and bad within our hearts. God will allow us to see where we are wrong, and because He is so good and allows us to have a relationship with Him, we are encouraged by Him to become more like Him with everything that we do.

Isn't that the point of salvation? We realize that we are not equal to God, and we have fallen and thus need Him to correct and fulfill our relationship with the Creator of our souls?

Unfortunately, oftentimes the Church tells us that what we're feeling isn't "Christian" if it doesn't align with the specific verses and phrases that the Americanized Christian Church has selected and/or come up with. Though we may posses a thought or feeling that may not be that which Christ would respond with, that does not mean that He is not in the situation! We must approach Jesus in a humble manor--with full humility.

It is OKAY to be Christian and HUMAN (in fact, it is required if you are Christian). God is still [always] with you--He desires for you to see where you are weak so that He may give you strength.

When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,

I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.

Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.

You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.

Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

-Psalm 73:21-26

A Picnic Few Want to Attend.

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another. Colossians 3:12, 13

The poor are a gift from God;

they are who we love the most.

Christ will not ask us how much we have done,

but how much love we have put into our actions.

-Mother Teresa (LL)

Tender: soft, gentle, affectionate, sentimental.

Mercy: to be compassionate or to show kindly forbearance towards someone, regardless of if they're worth showing love or not.

Can you believe that God has tender mercies for us, and only because of His tenderness and mercifulness we have love and salvation?

>>>How will you be tenderly merciful to someone today?

How Great is Your Love

Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God."

Matthew 22:29

At times, our study of the Scriptures can be powerful and uplifting.

But, how many of us turn towards the New Testament (and only the New Testament) for understanding and encouragement?

Do we forget that the Old Testament is where God first revealed the gospel (good news), and the OT is the Bible that Christ studied and used to evangelize with?

The Bible isn't two books--one that's easy to read and applicable to my life, and one that's so foreign and ancient. The Bible is one book with many promises.

If you belong to Christ, you are Abraham's seed (Gal 3:29). How has Israel impacted you since he/they are your roots? How has the Hebraic language changed your view on the Scriptures, since their style of poetry has created the greatest Love Story that will ever be written? How has the Bible that Christ studied laid down the foundation for love, and the understanding of love in your life?

Christ studied, believed, and acted according to the Old Testament. Why do we not do the same? How will we ever know how great His love is, if we don't even know the God who created us, as well as the people and struggles that we have come from?

Free the Light

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

Hebrews 3:13

To inform those who follow the blog:

Yes! I am finally at Gordon College, already getting my butt kicked by some classes (and loving it, endlessly!)

Yes! I did finish my missionary term (which you will hear about shortly)

And Yes! Family in Christ and/or myself will pray for you if you send us your prayer requests.

So recently...

God has incredible insight (obviously, right?). However, more often than not, we tend to overlook the many blessings, encouragement, and teachings that God intentionally plans in our lives. In order to be intentional followers and lovers of Christ, we must be intentional in listening to Him.

Two of my apartmentmates and I went out for coffee (yay house bonding!). What we didn't expect is that God was going to give us a huge opportunity to love on someone--outside of our apartment. Megan, being the socialite that she is, "made a friend" while in line to get a coffee. This woman slowly became part of our apartment get-together. Upon the end of our conversation she told us that the three of us (Meg, Marc, and I) could truly make a difference in this world. Whether she was astounded by the fact that Meg and I keep up with the news, Marc has a gentle, ever-so-sweet heart, we were all charismatic and welcoming, or the fact that the Spirit dwells in all three of us, she was quite impressed with our conversation. Meg then responded that this woman could also do great things. She then opened up to us about her shattered self image and self worth. Little did we know, God placed a truly beautiful person in our lives in order for Him to speak to her through us. Simply by engaging in conversation with a "random" young woman, she was able to feel welcomed and appreciated for the first time, in what seemed like a long time.

Sometimes Christ isn't as bold with whom He wants us to encourage. It isn't an everyday occurrence for most people to have someone open up their hearts with another person. But why is that? Do we all not desire to be authentic? If we truly tune into the Spirit, openly and lovingly become more like Him, nothing would be able to stop us from opening up our hearts as Christ does.

How is Christ calling you to encourage someone today? How would Satan be able to get in and destroy if encouragement isn't one of our priorities in loving someone?

encourage one another daily.