Sunday, May 15, 2011
Fighter Verse
"And don't sin by letting anger control you. Don't let the sun go do down when you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil." Ephesians 4:26-27
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Theresa's Story
A few weeks ago I began an 8-week women's Bible study through McLean Bible Church-Bethesda. I had joined sort of on a whim, but God obviously had plans for me to be in this study. There are only four of us, and I am by far the youngest woman in the study, by about 25 years, but I love the opportunity I have to glean wisdom from these women who have walked so many years faithfully at Jesus' side. It is such a privilege, and a wonderful blessing.
This morning was special, because we each told brief versions of how we came to know the Lord and the journey we have been on with him. While each story was very touching, Theresa's really moved me.
Theresa is Singaporean, and has has only been in the United States during the last 7 years of her adult life. She told us of her life growing up in a culture where ancestral worship is a strongly rooted belief, and where death is a very scary idea. Death is scary, because it is believed that when you die you go to hell, and that there are different levels of hell. Depending on how much good or bad you do on earth determines which level of hell you will find yourself in. An entirely works-based religion, and one that points only to condemnation. What a dismal picture.
Theresa also told of how families are not very tight-knit in her culture and that she was caused a lot of pain in her family from her siblings and parents. This disconnect left her feeling very lonely and lost. At 17 she was searching for some meaning and purpose in life. This is where God stepped into her life in a huge way. Theresa met a Christian friend who really invested in her and brought her to all sorts of Christian events, prayed with her, and listened to her hardships. It was this friend who shared the gospel with her and explained the significance of a personal relationship with Christ.
Theresa was blown away by the thought that there was a loving Father in heaven who wanted to take care of her, love her unconditionally, bless her, and spend eternity with her. It seemed unreal to her, because she did not know what it was to have a father who loved her and wanted to provide for her, and she did not have to do anything to earn his approval or wonderful gift of salvation. As Theresa spoke of her relationship with her father and how she never knew what it was to be loved, tears leaked out of her eyes, and my heart broke for her. Even in her adulthood, and as a mother of three children, the absence of her father's love is a wound that hurts her deeply. But how much more profound and wonderful then is God's great love that he desired to lavish upon her! It makes my heart soar to hear of how deeply God moves and works in our hearts and lives!
Our God is mighty to save and bring redemption and light into the lives of every single hurting and lost person on this earth. We cannot give up hope or cease praying for the lost! I am inspired to pray all the more fervently for my sisters and parents, as they are not believers, because I have been reminded of how God's timing is perfect and his power is awe-inspiring. He can do far more than we could ever imagine, hope, or dream! Praise God!
"For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost."
Luke 19:10
"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." Ephesians 3:20
This morning was special, because we each told brief versions of how we came to know the Lord and the journey we have been on with him. While each story was very touching, Theresa's really moved me.
Theresa is Singaporean, and has has only been in the United States during the last 7 years of her adult life. She told us of her life growing up in a culture where ancestral worship is a strongly rooted belief, and where death is a very scary idea. Death is scary, because it is believed that when you die you go to hell, and that there are different levels of hell. Depending on how much good or bad you do on earth determines which level of hell you will find yourself in. An entirely works-based religion, and one that points only to condemnation. What a dismal picture.
Theresa also told of how families are not very tight-knit in her culture and that she was caused a lot of pain in her family from her siblings and parents. This disconnect left her feeling very lonely and lost. At 17 she was searching for some meaning and purpose in life. This is where God stepped into her life in a huge way. Theresa met a Christian friend who really invested in her and brought her to all sorts of Christian events, prayed with her, and listened to her hardships. It was this friend who shared the gospel with her and explained the significance of a personal relationship with Christ.
Theresa was blown away by the thought that there was a loving Father in heaven who wanted to take care of her, love her unconditionally, bless her, and spend eternity with her. It seemed unreal to her, because she did not know what it was to have a father who loved her and wanted to provide for her, and she did not have to do anything to earn his approval or wonderful gift of salvation. As Theresa spoke of her relationship with her father and how she never knew what it was to be loved, tears leaked out of her eyes, and my heart broke for her. Even in her adulthood, and as a mother of three children, the absence of her father's love is a wound that hurts her deeply. But how much more profound and wonderful then is God's great love that he desired to lavish upon her! It makes my heart soar to hear of how deeply God moves and works in our hearts and lives!
Our God is mighty to save and bring redemption and light into the lives of every single hurting and lost person on this earth. We cannot give up hope or cease praying for the lost! I am inspired to pray all the more fervently for my sisters and parents, as they are not believers, because I have been reminded of how God's timing is perfect and his power is awe-inspiring. He can do far more than we could ever imagine, hope, or dream! Praise God!
"For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost."
Luke 19:10
"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." Ephesians 3:20
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
When You Thought I Wasn't Looking
In honor of mother's day (a little late, I know), I wanted to post this poem. At church on Sunday the pastor read it as part of his sermon, and I thought it was so poignant and appropriate.
When You Thought I Wasn't Looking
When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you hang my first picture on the refrigerator,
and I wanted to paint another one.
I saw you hang my first picture on the refrigerator,
and I wanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you feed a stray cat, and I thought
it was good to be kind to animals.
I saw you feed a stray cat, and I thought
it was good to be kind to animals.
When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you make my favorite cake for me,
and I knew that little things are special things.
I saw you make my favorite cake for me,
and I knew that little things are special things.
When you thought I wasn't looking,
I heard you say a prayer,
and I believed there was a God that I
could always talk to.
I heard you say a prayer,
and I believed there was a God that I
could always talk to.
When you thought I wasn't looking,
I felt you kiss me good night,
and I felt loved.
I felt you kiss me good night,
and I felt loved.
When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned
that sometimes things hurt,
but it's all right to cry.
I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned
that sometimes things hurt,
but it's all right to cry.
When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw that you cared and I wanted to be
everything that I could be.
I saw that you cared and I wanted to be
everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn't looking,
I looked....and now I want to say thanks
for all the things I saw,
when you thought I wasn't looking.
I looked....and now I want to say thanks
for all the things I saw,
when you thought I wasn't looking.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Fighter Verse
"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:1-3)
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
My little kiddos
This is Kendall (4yo) and Warner (2yo), the little kids that I nanny for. They are great kids; I love them so much!
Warner is a happy-go-lucky little boy who loves to laugh, play, and knows that he's cute.
Kendall loves to color princesses, and is a smart, self-assured, mother hen of a little girl.
I have really enjoyed my time with Warner, Kendall, and the Sprague family. I will be sad to leave them in June when I head to YWAM DTS.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Free
Last week I was accepted to YWAM Denver ATWDTS, which starts June 27. ATWDTS (Around The World Discipleship Training School) is a 6-month program which includes 3 weeks of lecture and 3 months of outreach. The lecture phase, which is in Denver, entails in-depth study of Scripture, evangelism training, small groups, Bible study, and individual mentoring and outreach times. The outreach phase will include travel to five or six different locations internationally. The destinations will not be announced until I arrive in Denver in June to begin the lecture phase. It's a true taste of missions-- fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants.
It stills seems surreal, but the time is fast approaching. I am very excited to embark on this new adventure that God has before me, and I want to squeeze everything out of it that I can and absorb as much as I can as well. And as I pray in preparation for DTS, I know that I want my approach to be characterized by one word: FREE.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith." (Hebrews 12:1-2)
I want to enter DTS with a heart, mind, body, and soul that is free from hindrances, hurts, hang-ups, fears, doubts, self-reliance, guilt, and clutches of the past. I want to be free to embrace absolutely everything that God has for me--everything that he wants to show me, everything that he wants to teach me, how he wants to grow me and mold me and challenge me. I don't want to miss out on a single thing!
I want to enter DTS with open eyes, an open mind, an open heart, and open arms--ready to embrace! I want to feel the sun on my face, the wind at my back, love overflowing my heart, and the world within my arm's grasp.
I am praying as I allow the freedom of Christ to work within my life, that God will use me as an instrument to bring the light of hope to the dark places around the world. And I am praying that God will transform my heart, that he will break it for what breaks his, and that he will show me how and guide me through his Holy Spirit to be his hands and feet to those who are lost, broken, and weary.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours,
no hands but yours, no feet but yours,
yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion
is to look out to the earth,
yours are the feet by which He is to go about doing good
and yours are the hands by which He is to bless us now.
"But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell the without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, 'How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!'" (Romans 10:14-15)
"For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." (2 Corinthians 3:17)
It stills seems surreal, but the time is fast approaching. I am very excited to embark on this new adventure that God has before me, and I want to squeeze everything out of it that I can and absorb as much as I can as well. And as I pray in preparation for DTS, I know that I want my approach to be characterized by one word: FREE.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith." (Hebrews 12:1-2)
I want to enter DTS with a heart, mind, body, and soul that is free from hindrances, hurts, hang-ups, fears, doubts, self-reliance, guilt, and clutches of the past. I want to be free to embrace absolutely everything that God has for me--everything that he wants to show me, everything that he wants to teach me, how he wants to grow me and mold me and challenge me. I don't want to miss out on a single thing!
I want to enter DTS with open eyes, an open mind, an open heart, and open arms--ready to embrace! I want to feel the sun on my face, the wind at my back, love overflowing my heart, and the world within my arm's grasp.
I am praying as I allow the freedom of Christ to work within my life, that God will use me as an instrument to bring the light of hope to the dark places around the world. And I am praying that God will transform my heart, that he will break it for what breaks his, and that he will show me how and guide me through his Holy Spirit to be his hands and feet to those who are lost, broken, and weary.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours,
no hands but yours, no feet but yours,
yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion
is to look out to the earth,
yours are the feet by which He is to go about doing good
and yours are the hands by which He is to bless us now.
"But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell the without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, 'How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!'" (Romans 10:14-15)
"For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." (2 Corinthians 3:17)
Fighter Verse
"They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction."
(Psalm 1:5-6)
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