i'm around.

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

hey all - what's going on? i no longer 'should' make updates at work so that's been my trouble. i'm doing well and the new job is going very well. i'm lovin' it. today a trainer is coming in to help me out - to learn the program better - it's called 'servicom'.

these verses in colossians have been running around my head the last few weeks. something about the 'being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks'. as i grow older, and hopefully more mature, i'm beginning to see the connection between endurance, patience and being thankful. and even more so, the source of the strength comes from all power of His glorious might.

i'll try to be better at updating. sorry for the lack of input.

Thoughts

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
col. 3:1-3

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
phil. 4:8

Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
rom. 13:14

ok, so i entered those verses above, and then sat staring at my monitor for about 5 minutes, pondering the sum of my thoughts. so it's time to jot down some of those thoughts. orginally i had thot about speaking of taking our thoughts captive (2 cor. 10:5). and how that is a powerful form of spiritual battle. how in the midst of our temptation struggles, we should force ourselves to think of Christ, and our death and resurrection in Him. (making it personal, i'm re-learning this stategy.)

then i jumped over to something i read the other day. a quote from chuck swindoll, "Life is 90 percent attitude and 10 percent what happens to you." the way we re-act to situations can change to direction of life.

then i jumped over to this series were are going thru with the jr. high at youth group. it's a study on the beattitudes. last weeks lesson was on being blessed when we are poor in spirit. i challenge you to ask a 6th grader what 'blessed' means. or ask them what "poor in spirit" means. you may be amazed at their definitions of these terms. i know i was.

so that's a brief tour thru my mind. random thoughts jumping from sermons to life experiences.

on a side note, irene has suggested this link. it's a bit disturbing - but very heartfelt. just warning there is some risque info on it. please read at your own risk.

Amazing Christ,
You perceive my thoughts; You know all about me. You're the One who searches me and knows me. i can't run or hide from You. nothing is hidden from Your site.

it still amazes me the way You use the Word to form truth in my life. as i turn to You for wisdom and guidance, You rain down Your righteousness in abundance. You fill my desires (ps. 145:16); You're my satisfier, my provider. so i give You my praise for hearing my prayers, for caring so lovingly, for carrying my burdens and healing my hurt. i love You so much, Father. thanks for being my Friend.

Father, You know all the concerns of my heart, and there are plenty. (new pastor and the flanders transition) (the family of dee and him beeson) (the frye's) (the visa situation and the china trip) (derrick) (ym of jumc) (ed's daughter) (recovery of jackie) (career path) (mission trip opportunity) (staff @ jumc) (hope's cruise and babysitting the kiddos) (SD trip?) oh so many others...

but all these are in Your care (and off my chest). i lay them down on Your altar. i can't change and heal and help any of these cares, but You can. You are able. and so i expect You to deal with them in Your incredible way of mercy and grace. thanks for letting me unbound my heart's desires to You.
in Jesus Name ~ Amen

*irene *tucker *isheanesu project

Struggling in Prayer

Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." The man asked, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he answered. Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." Jacob said, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there.
Gen. 32:26-29

Jacob must have had bad blood with his brother, Esau. if you read a few verses earlier in teh chapter, Jacob was down on his knees - crying out for mercy, because he feared his brother was going to kill him and all his people. on his knees, jacob took God at his Word and stated that God had promised, 'I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.' (gen 32:12) seems like a crisis of belief...

and then comes along the visitor of the night. Jacob and this stranger duke it out all night. finally it's daybreak, and the stranger wants to quit. (enter my questioning mind!) i wonder why ...the stranger wanted to quit when it becomes light? ...jacob was so eager to be blessed by this fighter? ...the stranger need to know jacob's name in order to change it. ...and i wonder how life would have been for a man named "struggles with God."? how would you like that name -'struggles with God'? seems a bit brash to me, but whatever, i guess.

and as it turns out - Jacob got the stranger's blessing...and an embrace by his brother. the prayer of jacob was answered in abundance.

Jesus,
i know You were the Stranger. Jacob called on Your Name and sought Your protection. and for some reason You blessed him in more ways than he could have asked for. and i know You do the same for me, and for this i'm grateful.

Your mercy is abundantly, new every day. thanks for carrying me in your hands, and for allowing me to dig deeper into our relationship. You are an amazing God, and You are trustworthy. so i place my trust in You, expecting You to supply my needs and heart's desire.

i have some friends who are struggling in relationships. may You grant them courage to speak their minds in a spirit of love and forgiveness. may You soften their hearts. please let them experience You thru their relationships with others. thanks for knowing us completely and for continuing to stretch us in different directions. life with You is not boring.
in Jesus Name ~ Amen.

*Kimberly *Denise *Jennifer

What's Stupid?

Answering before listening is both stupid and rude.
prov. 18:13

Wise thinking leads to right living; Stupid thinking leads to wrong living.
eccl. 10:2

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
psalm 119:9

after youth group last night, i took some time to catch up on some proverbs. man, there is some good stuff in the Word of God! like this one, "The perceptive find wisdom in their own front yard; fools look for it everywhere but right here." (Prov. 17:24) i could go on and on about my reading last night, but you could read a few chapters of Proverbs, and you'll probably feel the same way.

so i have this habit of filling in people's sentences. i guess i get bored when people speak slowly and they don't get out what they are trying to say. but i've been feeling some conviction about this. laid on my heart have been two scriptures about this: prov. 18:13 (see above), and 1 cor. 13 (about what it means to love). if love is patient than it is not impatient. and so rushing people to get out what they are saying is not love. ...and so back to Jesus i return.

Christ,
You always seem to get my attention in the most odd ways...but i love it! thanks for being outside the box with me. thanks for knowing me completely and yet You still love me. that is amazing! i praise You for being the Christ, for suffering the abuse of men so that i may have a way to re-connect with You in a very personal way.

You know my short comings. You know how impatient i can get. so i lay this struggle down at Your feet. on the cross You conquered this sin, and covered it with Your sacrificial blood. there's nothing i can do to make myself more clean than what You've accomplished in the act of death on the cross and resurrection into Heaven. You've finished the work. and so i ask for You to rise up within me, creating a way for me to overcome this impatience. it's no longer my struggle; it's all Yours. be praised for rescuing me from the chains of sin. ony thru You am i more than a conqueror.

in Christ's name ~ Amen.

*Mitchell *Savannah *Courtney

Forgiveness

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
col. 3:12-14

as i grow older (and hopefully more mature) the importance of taking on these qualities becomes a need, and not just something i can 'work on'. (i don't want to count how many times i've used that phrase - i need to 'work on' this or that.) love can't happen with out compassion or kindness or humility or gentleness or patience. it just can't. and that is such a hard lesson for me.

i can work on all these qualities all i want, but until i allow Christ to move thru me with His love - all this 'working on' is meaningless - a chasing after the wind. and lack of these qualities comes down to my unwillingness to allow Christ to move mountains. so my struggle to see beyond the here and now, and to take on Christ's eternal perspective of people will only come to an end when i turn over my criticial and unyielding spirit. i yearn for love...but sometimes my discipline doesn't like the procress of surrendering to Jesus.

Holy Jesus,
i yearn to be more like You. i want to have Your qualities of love, humility, gentleness, compassion, kindness and patience, but i confess that i've failed to yield my critical spirit to You. so i surrender this negative outlook to You. this is a battle which You've already conquered, and so i'm a champion in a fight which continues to rage. You've paid the price and the deal is sealed. now i ask for You to fill me, Holy Spirit, with Your qualities. open my eyes that i may see people thru the same lens as You see them. and may You receive the praise for this transformation in me. thanks for guiding me closer to You thru this journey. i am homesick today, not to see my earthly parents, but to see my home in paradise where we can commune like never before. i desire You.

i know You've heard my prayers and requests for my brother, and i know in my heart that You've been with him thru this struggle. so i praise You for responding in Your time. You are excellent and great. and You are worthy to praise, forever and a day. You are so great. thanks for caring for derrick in Your perfect way. thanks for rescuing him from the depths of sin and death. thanks for releasing him from the sin which has entangled him. Your power is great and armored with strength.

Rescued

So I greet you with the great words, grace and peace! We know the meaning of those words because Jesus Christ rescued us from this evil world we're in by offering himself as a sacrifice for our sins. God's plan is that we all experience that rescue. Glory to God forever! Oh, yes!
Gal. 1:3-5

last night before falling off to sleep i had some interesting thoughts. it's an analogy, i suppose. 'better to have 2 singed souls than only one unharmed and one lost.' let me attempt to explain.

in an effort to save lost souls from the raging fires of hell, we, Christians, need to be willing to get singed. we need to reach down into the pits of hell and latch a strong hold onto our unsaved friends. and in doing so we'll be singe along with them, but we'll both be rescued. if we never try, they may never be saved.

now i'm not saying that we are the ones who rescue them. God is the One, and only One, who saves. we can be the 'medium' for which God's saving grace flows. and i believe we are called to be singe.

so i ask myself, 'for whom have i been singed?' and 'whom am i being singed for?' and honestly, i'm not feeling much heat right now for anyone besides my brother and his girlfriend. i've heard that he is struggling to be made whole, and i pray that he finds the only One who can make that happen.

Jesus,
i praise You for Your saving grace. i rejoice in the way You've opened my heart to know You. and because i know this wonderful love, i beg You to let my brother know Your love, healing and forgiveness. may You rescue him from the pits; please don't let him get burned any longer. he needs You so bad, Jesus. as tears fill my eyes, i fall on knees, begging for Your mercy.

You are able to save, and You are willing to save. You are God of this universe, and Lord over all mandkind. Your kingdom is forever and You reign from the highest heavens. You've heard my prayers and intercession, and i know You've prayed with me. thanks for caring and loving us, even though You know all our shortcomings. You are amazing. i love You, and praise You for moving in Derrick's life. i know that You've protected him from so much evil, and i know that You are present in his life, just as You are in mine. Your blood is sufficient for all our sin; nothing more needs to be done.

as i go, i'm filled with comfort, knowing You are at work. You long for Derrick's heart to be captured by Your love even more than i do. and that gives me great comfort. thanks.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen.
*Derrick *Deb *Wendell

well, this morning i had typed this long post about the one foreigner who returned to give Jesus the praise for healing him from leprosy. but when i clicked the publish button, it took me to a page to sign in. it was all very strange.

so in my previous invisible post, my thoughts focused around me returning to Jesus to say 'thanks' for giving me life. this man who suffered from leprosy was shunned by the multitudes, but this Jesus took the time not only to speak with him, but to heal him of his disease. that Jesus is the same Jesus who healed me from the disease of sinfulness which i could not find a cure. He accomplished what i could never do. and for that i want to be the one to return to Him with a heart filled with thankfulness and praise.

Jesus - Healer of my soul,
You're so good, and Your love endures thru my stupidities. You've taken upon Yourself all the disease and brokenness and restored us unto Yourself. thanks for giving to me what i could never gain on my own. You've healed me.

in Your powerful Name ~ Amen

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*kevin *dalit ministries *Kris

Be Peaceable

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.
titus 3:1-2

i just had something happen at work which just got under my skin. working in an environment where i am the only female can be challenging.

this passage gets my mind off the reality of self, and see into the unseen which is eternal. (So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 4 Cor. 4:18) --learned that verse last night during our last crown bible study.)

this passages starts off w/ 'remind the people'. well, in order to not be hypocritical, then certainly we need to be the example of what we preach... this is where the trouble comes in. i need to be in the Word, finding what is says and carrying it out. no compromising. i need to be the one who submits to the government, to be obedient to the laws (includin the speed limit and allow the person on my right turn first), be ready to step up when i see something which needs to be accomplished, to hold my tongue and be in control of my thoughts at all times, put others interests before my own and peaceable, and to show true humility to all men. (for me the emphasis is on "men".)

i tend to be defensive around others who are demanding and controlling. i do not play with other who demand my attention...but i need to learn to. my spirit knows who i am, and my Spirit knows i need to change. so i'm stuck in this 'in-body battle'. it feels like the scene on the Looney Tunes when there is an angel on one shoulder telling me to do good, and the demon on the other shoulder is screaming to do the opposite. so i'm battling in my mind to be at peace, to submit and be obedient with a willing spirit.

Jesus,
You've been where i am. surely You were tempted to lash out against those who rose up against You. yet, You refrained. i pray for strenght and wisdom to refrain. to love those who persecute me and treat me unfairly. may You receive the glory for this change of heart. i can't change on my own, nor am i capable of loving those who are rude. Spirit, i know You desire me to be Christ-like...so i cry out to Your for help.

thanks for hearing my heart, for knowing my battle, for sustaining me thru this trial. You are surrounding me with Your love and understanding. Your grace covers me like waves of the ocean. thanks for divine grace. i love You.
in Jesus Name = Amen.

---

*Shottie *David *Sarah

i've had some trouble updating the last 2 days...so i'm glad to see this is up and running again.

my tattoo 

Closeness of God

"Am I only a God nearby," declares the LORD , "and not a God far away?"
jer.23:23

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
psalm 139:7-10

rob bell. have any of you ever heard rob bell give a message? click here to listen. i enjoy his preaching style. i've seen him give 2 messages, and both times i left pondering what he had said.

so i was listening to the message about Teenage Liberation. and my thots drifted to thinking, 'where is God?', 'if God is present, why is all this misery happening?', 'how powerful is He?', etc. good questions... and He will answer all my questions (and He is the only One who gets me).

Jesus,
You are above all things - You are involved in history. You desire to be active in our lives - communicating Your heart to us. You are blessed above all.
tho i have many questions, You calm my cares and allow me to rest in You. You take me by the hand and sing Your love over me. then i'm changed - my fears are calmed and my heart is at peace. that comes only from You. You fill the hungry with good things. I am hungry for more of You.
in Your name - Amen

Unified Effort

I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
John 17:23

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Eph. 4:11-13

For the last two weekends i've been volunteering my time and effort with hundreds of middle and high schoolers at a camp in the north GA mountains. the purpose for the camp is to offer a place to experience God, and to develop and mature our faith. (as i typed the statement 'and to develop and mature our faith', i thot... 'this camp is not about us - it's about God and extolling His glory.' it's really not about us and our growth, but completely about He and His worthiness!)

and about unity...the staff volunteers rock! God has done an incredible thing thru these people. it's wonderful to work with others for a common goal - and do it without complaining and arguing. our hearts are unified and are spirits are melded together. we are all of one Head, one Spirit, one Purpose. and we are all at the camp to know that Christ loves us and that He desires to be in a thriving relationship with us. (my favorite word right now is 'thriving'.)

Jesus,
You amazing me. there is nothing boring about You. from the way You meld together minds to the way You warm hearts with Your love - nothing is boring or dull. thanks for allowing me to be part of Your purpose. it is amazing to me how You move thru Your people - those You've called by name.

i praise You for what you've begun anew with this generation. You've not forgotten us or abandon us. You're alive and active in our lives - more so than i've seen before. You've captured my heart with Your love, and now i see clearly. Your people still are able to display Your glory. You've shone Your light thru us, and now we see You more clearly. i could love You so many times!

may You continue to reveal Yourself thru Your people. Holy Spirit, may You equip us to continue to tell others of Your love. may You continue to let Your light shine thru those You've touched. ~ Amen.

Being Real With Myself

John Wesley asked these questions to him self everyday...
1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I'm better ......than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?

2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?

3. Do I confidentially pass on what was told to me in confidence?

4. Can I be trusted?

5. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits?

6. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying or self justifying?

7. Did the Bible live in me today?

8. Do I give it time to speak to me everyday?

9. Am I enjoying prayer?

10. When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?

11. Do I pray about the money I spend?

12. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?

13. Do I disobey God in anything?

14. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?

15. Am I defeated in any part of my life?

16. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful?

17. How do I spend my spare time?

18. Am I proud?

19. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees ......who despised the publican?

20. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what I am doing about it?

21. Do I grumble or complain constantly?

22. Is Christ real to me?

so i'm gonna try to ask myself a few of these questions a day...

That What is Devoted Cannot be Redeemed

But nothing that a man owns and devotes to the Lord -whether man or animal or family land-may be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to the Lord.
Lev. 27:28

last night before falling to sleep i opened my Bible to chapter 27 of Leviticus. there are some very 'interesting' teachings in Leviticus. anyway, this one verse caught my attention.

my thoughts jumped to 'once saved always saved' theory. just a thought: when someone devotes himself to the Lord - He becomes most holy and cannot be bought back. now i realze this verse is speaking of possessions, but are our lives not possessions? slaves certainly become possessions.

now i am not sure what i believe about 'once saved, always saved', but i do know that when i devoted myself to the Lord, it was a serious commitment. my life has been changed forever. and Jesus is to blame.

Jesus,
thanks for entering into my life. You've changed me from the inside and out. i don't want to try to redeem myself from You. i know that i am lost in You, and You are found in me. thanks for residing in my inmost being. thanks for making my holy thru Your sanctification. although process is not easy, i am grateful You've chosen me. my love for You is great. thanks for always being faithful.
in Your precious Name, Jesus ~ Amen

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*Kathryn *Savannah *Iraq Elections

Worldly Traditions Vs. Commands of God

"He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."
Mark 7:8

since traffic was flowing like a beaut this morning, i got to work 30 minutes early. and it was a God thing that i 'happened' to have a Bible in the back seat of my car. and on the way to work this morning i was challenged by, Leo Giovinetti to read my Bible for 1 hour a day for a week and see what changes happen within me. so for about 30 minutes i read.

and i came across these verses in Mark about the Pharisees and teachers of the law. these men were entrusted to teach the holy commands of God to those whom would follow. the Torah was their law. and they were obviously misguiding souls, because of their misconception of Scripture.

so i'm praying and asking my Father to search me and know me, and show me where i'm misguiding others. what 'traditions' have come into my life where i am not living the Truth? what has been passed onto me, which i've accepted as Truth, but is all a lie? whom has God entrusted to me to teach His holy commands? oh so many questions...

Jesus,
it amazes me how You can open up the Scripture each time i read Your Word. thanks for moving me closer to You. i pray with the psalmist, 'O Lord, search me, test me, and lead me in Your righteousness.' may You be my guide, my counselor, and the author and perfector of my faith. let Your light shine within me. and more than that, let us be led closer to You.
For and thru Jesus' Name ~ Amen.

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*Tricia *Bret *Fran