One Month Later

Well it has been a month since i last updated, but not a whole lot has happened. I backed out of the China trip because God is leading me to go speak at camp this summer, that should be fun. I am looking more and more into a missions organization for when I finish up college here. I got a job, working as a waitress (oh the irony) however I am only on day two of that. Not really a whole lot else.

Operation Love Bug!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!!!! A portion of my circle of friends this year for Valentine's day decided instead of whining about being single they were going to do something awesome and fun, they called it operation love bug. Basically what they did is they each bought a few Valentines (or made them) and signed them anonymously and took them to a nursing home. They instructed the nurses to give them to people who received few if any visitors. Basically their goal was to share some love with people who otherwise do not receive it. I am reminded of James 1 where he tells us to visit orphans and widows. Think and pray about this, what if Christians all over did this during various holidays this year and in years to come, what if we all did this and impacted people's lives. These are my thoughts, what are yours?

A Starry Night

Tonight I needed some time to think and pray to get my head cleared up some, so I went for a walk. I didn't feel particularly adventurous or active so I just walked to the end of one of the nearby streets where it hits a field, because there were few lights and lots of stars. I don't know if you have ever been in a place where you could see a lot of stars, but it is breathtaking, and well sort of humbling. One of the great things about being able to see so many stars is that the problems that seemed so insurmountable seem so much smaller especially if you have a relationship with the Father who created them all. While it donned on me, this was a decent, blogworthy illustration of our lives as Christians. When you are in the middle of a city (like most if not all my readers are) it is really hard to see God's handiwork, and sometimes it disappears completely in the midst of the world and the busyness it demands of us (I'll get to that later). There was still a great deal of "light" from the town so I decided to cup my eyes to see more, it worked and another realization hit me, focusing on God makes the world seem well rather stupid and allowed me to see so much more of God's handiwork and skill.

If you feel like you are getting busier and busier and barely have time for anything think about this. If you have accepted Christ, Satan is not going to just stop attacking, possibly the best alternative is getting you to waste your time so that you do not convince anyone else to be persuaded. And of course those who do not know Him will make their lives busier and busier to distract themselves from the emptiness inside and find something to fill their lives, all in vain of course. Try spending 5 minutes doing nothing, just praying, do not walk or move or anything, just sit or stand still and meditate on the God of heaven. Psalm 46:10 tells us to be still and know that He is God.

China

This year I have an incredible opportunity to go on a study tour trip for two weeks in China, I am requesting that you pray for me and the rest of the people going. What is even harder to believe is that it has been almost a whole year since I went to Vancouver. I had to pick up the crochet hook again i am going to make a whole lot of crosses to raise money for the trip I finished my tenth cross tonight. If yall could pray for me on this that would be great.

Movies

I went to see a movie with a friend from college last night. We picked, True Grit, which was about a 14 year old girl seeking to avenge her father's death and hires/assists a US Marshall in tracking her father's murderer down. I went home, did not think about it much, but as I woke up this morning I was going to watch a movie, but I could not help but think about the movie I saw last night. The entire movie they shoot people, connive to get ahead, and seek revenge. Never once did I stop myself and ask is murdering wrong, is it wrong to get ahead by lying, cheating, or injuring, or is it wrong to seek revenge? I am tired this morning so I was going to watch a movie on my computer to try to fall back asleep. Once again I see all these subtle plots about revenge, sex, lying, murdering, conniving, etc... I know this is no surprise, considering who produces movies. Keep in mind the next time you go see a movie that everybody has a worldview they are going to push and shove at you.

What if?

What if we started believing and living like we say we do? Think about the fact that John 14:12 tells us that Jesus said that we will do even greater things than he did, but also in Matthew 5:16 He tells us to "let our lights shine so that people may see our good works and praise our Father in Heaven." Or think about the early church who were so filled with the Holy Spirit that it just sort of overflowed think about Pentecost, 3000 souls that came to believe, it was not because Peter was such an inspirational speaker, or because Matthew had donated his embezzled money to a worthy charity or anything else that they did something because of their strength or because they read so many self help books. People were reached because the Holy Spirit was allowed to move. When was the time you saw the real power of God?

Our God is a healer

About half of you know what I used to do. I used to cut, the last time was October 2009 and the scars i inflicted on myself were supposed to stay with me for a long time. I am here to tell you that we serve a God who heals. I have no scars anymore. NONE!!!!!!!!!!!! Just saying that God can and will heal you if you let Him.