Stench

I've made myself available to those who haven't bothered to ask. I'm here, ready to be found by those who haven't bothered to look. I kept saying "I'm here, I'm right here" to a nation that ignored me. I reached out day after day to a people who turned their backs on me, people who make wrong turns, who insist on doing things their own way. They get on my nerves, are rude to my face day after day, make up their own kitchen religion, a potluck religious stew. They spend the night in tombs to get messages from the dead, eat forbidden foods and drink a witch's brew of potions and charms. They say, "Keep your distance. Don't touch me. I'm holier than thou.' These people gag me. I can't stand their stench.
isaiah 65:1-5

often it's difficult to see the Truth hidden within an event. this afternoon some adults were hanging out in the kitchen at our church and someone notice a rancid smell. some food had been left in one of the warmers for far too long. it made all of those present in the room gag when we discovered the culprit. it was so disgusting. there was some serious 'stench' going on!

so what's to be learned? i'm still trying to sort out my thots. i think of Mother Teresa and her example to the children living in the sewers of India. i think of these verses about how our actions can cause Jesus to gag - we become a stench in His nostrils. i think of Jesus and how he had to clean out the evil from within the temple/church. i think of how terrible the smell must have been when the romans raided Jerusalem, killing most of the Jews and piling their bodies in open pits. or when the raids in Rwanda thru genocide - wars in general. how must stench would all that killing cause? and personally i think of what my actions must smell like to Jesus. am i an aroma or stench? is what i do pleasing or appalling? am i a servant - or am i self-serving? oh so many questions from one experience which caused my nose hairs to cringe.

Jesus, cleanser of my soul, come and make me whole. i don't want to make you gag or be a rancid smell in Your nostrils. i desire to be an aroma which is pleasing to You and those around me. i want to serve. and if serving means cleaning trays with maggots, then so be it. i want to be faithful in the small things. You are my hope and salvation - i am stench without Your robe of righteousness encompassing me. i love wearing your as my garment. i praise You for this experience to realize how i trule desire to please You. and i praise You for cleansing my soul -for making me whole - for warm water to wash away the muck and grime - the filth which leads to sin.
in Jesus' Name - Amen.

I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord.
hosea 2:19,20

Betroth:
1 : to promise to marry
2 : to give in marriage
i'm contemplating the thot of Jesus promising to marry me. and not only bound physically, but in righteousness, justice, love and compassion. to find a man of compassion... now that seems to be a real challenge... (wink, wink)

Thank You for promising to marry me. that thot helps me to realize that i'm not unworthy of love or of someone treating me with respect. Your heart shines thru this statement, and it truly gives me hope that one day we will meet face to face - on our wedding day. until then, may You equip me to remain faithful to You.
in Your holy Name ~ Amen.

*Shamute *Jennie *Jennie

Seeking God's Will

I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.
psalm 40.8

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 thessalonians 5.16-18

wow i'm easily distracted. i've tried to update this blog for a week now... well, it's already friday. and as i begun to type i noticed these clip things at the edges of the crossbars on the window. they are plastic things that slide and a nail in the middle. never seen them before. and since i needed to find out their meaning, i had to move one, to see what it did. now that i know about these sliders, i can write about my thots. (lol)

so i've been house sitting for some friends of mine while they are in florida on vacation. house sitting is a great thing... get paid to live at someone's house. sweet deal. anyways, this house has this awesome window bench, and i love it. i've spent quite a bit of my time on this bench, praying, reading, hanging out. great hide-away! wish i had one with a great window view like this one. ok, there i go again, getting distracted...

so i have some friends who are struggling with knowing God's will for their lives. i've been there. after one year at college, i decided it wasn't my thing so i did something different. i got a map, pointed, and moved. (oh, and i found a job there too.) it was a God thing, tho i sometimes question if it was His will, or if He allowed me to take that path so i could learn some incredible lessons. in any case, i've traveled the world and discovered that my faith matters.

i've chosen some wrong paths along the way, but thru them Christ was next to me - and i was ultimately being held by Him. (by the way, i said, 'held' cuz natalie grant has this new cd out, and i really want to get it b/c of the song called 'held'.)

so about knowing God's will...sometimes we need to jump into deep seas to find it. even when the unknown is knocking at the door, it's ok to open it. strangers are strange because we've not taking the time to let them be friends. seek God, pursue with passion, love your enemies and your neighbors more than yourself. and on those days when you don't want to continue..force yourself anyway. don't give into the ways of the world. dream big. pray more. that's my advice.

Jesus,
for my friends who are seeking to do Your will, i pray for You to open their spiritual eyes to know You more. may Your passion burn deep in their souls to seek out what You want them to do. give them the courage to pursue You and their dreams. let their hearts be filled with You, Holy Spirit, that they may walk in confidence of doing what You desire for them. hold the fast, and let them do the same to You. Father, it is our desire that we do Your will. let Your will be done on earth, just as You're doing in heaven. i love You and praise You for allowing me to run after You.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen

*Stacy *Brandon *Sarah