No Good Thing

The womens ministry at my church has just embarked on a very cool journey.... scripture memorization via, blogging! Here is my verse I have chosen for this month and a little explanation to why I chose it...

"I said to the LORD, 'You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.' " (Psalm 16:2)

One of the major growing up steps in the Christian life is to be able to say -- and believe (much harder) -- the statement David makes to God in this verse.

It's a dangerous faith statement. To believe it is to leave all the false self-hope behind. To believe it is to say, "Everything I thought I'd given to myself was actually God's gift to me." To believe it is to say, "Every good thing I don't have right now is something my loving Father didn't give to me -- so I must not need it in this moment."

To believe this statement -- and all the implications it brings -- is to step into the deeper end of the faith pool. It's an idea that should fill us with gratitude as we notice all the good things we have. But it's also one that will challenge our willingness to trust the powerful Father who knows us best to give us what He decides is for our good in His timing.

Love covers a multitude of sins

How do you explain your religion?Your "relationship" if you will.Your spiritual viewpoint?

If love isn't at the basis of that you need to change your perspective.Jesus explained true religion as taking care of widows and orphans.That being said, how much more do we turn our religion into politics?Gone is the love and concern for the people around us that have different view points, and judgmental attitudes overcome us.I fail to see where Jesus worked politics into his religion that he came to bring.You didn't see Jesus leading marches against his government because they made a decision that he didn't agree with and he lived under a cruel, oppressive government.

We have it much more cushy.I'm not saying we shouldn't have a voice in our world- i'm just wondering how much more we could do if we stopped legislating morality and just starting loving.I'm so sick of other Christians expecting a lost and dying world to be living in the light.Us imposing our beliefs on them isn't going to change them.Ever.I tried that for a long time.How about us loving people?Being a non-evasive example of our beliefs.Being consistent and considerate and allowing people time to work through their own beliefs.

I'm not sure where i'm going with this to be completely honest.I've just been a state of sheer frustration for the past three days with Christians around us and their response to our local governments.I understand voicing your opposition, but at the same time shouldn't we as Christians be the ones who love people through their mistakes, different viewpoints, and stop imposing our beliefs on them until they come to a God-led conclusion on their own?Jesus never once forced someone into following him.He simply provided them with an opportunity and let them make the decision for themselves.He never judged them because of their prior life after they came to him not matter what it was.

Shouldn't we be that forgiving?Shouldn't we stop judging people based on their current religious hangups, sexual preferences, political decisions and just love them as Jesus loves us?

Just my 2 cents..."What the world needs now is love- sweet love.."

Slow Dance...

Ever feel like life is so busy, your missing out on what its really all about... well I`ve been feeling this way quite alot lately. I am so busy doing stuff, but am I missing out on what life is really about....This poem was written by a terminally ill young girl in a New York Hospital . I think she somewhat `gets it`....

Have you ever watched kids On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rainSlapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down.Don't dance so fast.Time is short.The music won't last.
Do you run through each dayOn the fly?When you ask How are you?Do you hear the reply?When the day is done Do you lie in your bed With the next hundred chores Running through your head?You'd better slow downDon't dance so fast.Time is short.The music won't last.
Ever told your child, We'll do it tomorrow?And in your haste,Not see hissorrow?Ever lost touch, Let a good friendship die Cause you never had time To call and say,'Hi' You'd better slow down.Don't dance so fast.Time is short.The music won't last.
When you run so fast to get somewhereYou miss half the fun of getting there.When you worry and hurry through your day,It is like an unopened gift....Thrown away.Life is not a race.Do take it slower Hear the music Before the song is over.

Once a little girl... now a woman

Every woman was once a little girl. And every little girl holds on her heart her most precious dreams. She longs to be swept up into a romance, to play an irresistable role in a great adventure, to be the Beauty of the story. Those diaries are far more than child's play. They are the secret to the feminine heart.

And yet- how many women do you know who ever find that life? As the years pass by, the heart of a women gets pushed aside, wounded, buried. She finds no romanse except in novels, no adventure except on television and she doubts very much that she will ever be the Beauty in any tale.

But her heart is still there. Sometimes when she watches a movie, sometimes in the wee hours of the night, her heart begins to speak again. A thirst rises within her to find the life she was meant to live- th life she dreamed of as a little girl.

Here's the deal ladies: Your heart matters more than anything else in all creation! The desires you had as a little girl and the longings you still feel as a woman- they are telling you of the life God created you to live. He offers to come now as the Hero of your story, to rescue your heart and release you to live as a fully alive and feminine woman. A woman who is truly captivating.

If you know me at all, you will know I am anything but a " hopeless romantic". It has been said that quite often I am all to realistic when it comes to this whole issue of relationships and dealing with my emotions. Ironically this has been an issue that has been facing so many students in my youth group, and in my life. From girls who allow guys to treat them like CRAP, ( excuse my french ;)) to guys who actually worry about who they will end up with one day, emotions and relationships are a HUGE part of who we are as humans. And unless we understand who we are in GOd's eyes then we can't even begin to start acting in the way he wants us to as His children. * Guys, and girls, in no way am I condeming anyone... I myself, stand in need of learning a lesson or two in this area, but thankfully God is changing my heart, and is showing me that the more I a chose to be vulnerbale and real with my feelings and emotions the more I am acting in a way that God created me to, and desires for me to. Here is an awesome love letter from God to women. Take a minute and read it... you will be encouraged!

Dear Women,
When I created the heavens and the earth, I spoke them into being. When I created man, I formed him and breathed life into his nostrils. But you, woman, I fashioned after I breathed the breath of life into man because your nostrils are too delicate. I allowed a deep sleep to come over him so I could patiently and perfectly fashion you. Man was put to sleep so that he could not interfere with the creativity. From one bone I fashioned you. I chose the bone that protects man’s life. I chose the rib, which protects his heart and lungs and supports him, as you are meant to do. Around this one bone, I shaped you… I modeled you. I created you perfectly and beautifully. Your characteristics are as the rib, strong yet delicate and fragile. You provide protection for the most delicate organ in man, his heart. His heart is the center of his being, his lungs hold the breath of life. The rib cage will allow itself to be broken before it will allow damage to the heart. Support man as the rib cage supports the body. You were not taken from his feet, to be under him, nor were you taken from his head, to be above him. You were taken from his side, to stand beside him and be held close to his side. You are my perfect angel… You are my beautiful girl. You have grown to be a splendid woman of excellence, and my eyes fill when they part in prayer. Your nose, so perfect in form, your hands so gentile to touch. I’ve caressed your face in your deepest sleep. I’ve held your heart close to mine. Of all that lives and breathes, you are most like me. Adam walked with me in the coolness of day, yet he was lonely. He could not see me or touch me. He could only feel me. So everything I wanted Adam to share and experience with me, I fashioned in you; my holiness, my strength, my purity, my love, my protection and support. You are special because you are an extension of me. Man represents my imagine, woman my emotions. Together, you represent the totality of God. So man… treat women well. Love her, respect her, for she is fragile.

Love,
Your Daddy ( God)

Resore Me....

OK so I know I haven't written in a while, and I have no idea why not because alot has been going on! Here is few just to name some:
1. I have recently just recieved my first sponsor child, her name is Loveny Yrat... she is 10 yrs. old and is living in Haiti with her six sibblings. Its amazing the love that God can give for you, for someone you have never met, and don't even know! I will dedicate a blog entery in the next little while to introduce you guys to her, she's awesome!

2. I recieved my BTh! Woo Hoo ! Now looking into starting either my MA in counseling in September or starting to school to be a certified nouthetic counselor ( if you have any suggestions or have done either let me know!)

3. Looking forward to the things God is teaching me in my own personal walk. It hasnt been an "easy" past few weeks.... I have been struggling alot peronsally BUT as always God has been soooo faithful and He has used people to speak truth into my like, to which I am SO grateful, He has used sermons, books, my students, and music, all to bring me to my knees in recognition of who HE is, despite who I am.

I would like to spend a moment sharing with you a song I came across actually just today. Its funny because it was over facebook and I saw it as a link in someones name, and I actually didn't mean to click on it but I did, and the song just started playing, so I listened, and the words got me. I had just finished watching "End of the Spear" and cried the whooooole way through it ( which is VERY unlike me) but nevertheless, as I listened to this song, I really listened to the words over and over. I have written them out for you guys so you can check them out and if you have the time listen to the song as well... its powerful stuff! This is my prayer....
Restore Me
Jason Ingram

Intro:
I lift my prayer to a God who waits to here
Each groan that I call out in His Name.

I'm standing here in silence, I wait for You to speak
For Your whisper heals me with one word
chorus:

Restore me, I would have no way but your's my Lord.
Restore me, like the eagle spreads it's wings and soars,
I will lift my faithless heart to a God who's love is pure.
Resting in your arms I am secure.
Restore me.

God is BIG!

A.W. Tozer once wrote: What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. If this is true, then what comes into your mind when you think about God. Is he almighty all powerful, creator and judge? Maybe he is in your back pocket ready to pull out when you need him. If your God is the God of the Bible, then he should be thought about all the time, in every circumstance and talked about and praised in our everyday conversations! Think about it!

My two-cents...

John 8:32

" Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Have you experienced a group frantically reaching for you? Climbing over their fellows and crying outt in desperation. To be in the middle of a human storm; a mob represented by a thousand focused hands. I have.

Why the commotion? A movie star... extraordinary giveaways? Not quite...someone was handing out Bibles. recently I heard a testimony of a guy who just went on a missions trip to northern Tanzania, in a city called Arusha just south of the Kenyan bordeer; in the middle of a wood-working arena, dirt floor and container shop after container shop. He goes on to share, " I had walked through the market earlier in the day as a tourist, but felt very compelled to return as a missionary". Can you imagine the same happening here in Canada? We hunger for many things, but sadly truth is not one of them. I remember commenting recently to some friends that if a Jonah-type figure were to walk through our cities proclaiming sure judgement, we would laugh and commit him. Not so if the same happened in an African setting. "I believe they still fear the Lord."

" we professors are going to go right on trying to discredit you in the eyes of your children, trying to strip your fundamentalist religion community of dignity, trying to make your views seem sily rather than discussable."

Let me welcome yout to a new battle: one that has the audacity to make outlandish claims, and fears no reprocussion; one that has gained enough popularity and confidence to go public on their warpath. Politicians have their policy while the public maintains a sense of security under the guise of common decency as civilization escapes scrutiny therby evading accountability ina world saturated with theory but missing truth- exchanged for relativity where their only hope has been robbed of his majesty and traded for the temporary deemed morality in the minds of society insomuch as pockets of believers lost within the walls of their sanctuaries cry out " holy, holy, holy" to a people that can no more hear than see them. It is from here that we will change the world. Our IMPRINT group has roughly 30 students that come out weekly, to study and grow in their faith. Statistically of these some 30 students, 23 will walk away from Christ due mainly to intellectual conflicts against their faith. I trust we can do better than this! Satan is making a concerted and precise effort for the hearts of our students, will we respond?