The Tuesday Before Christmas

                         I know, I know, I said that I wouldn't post anything this month, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share with you this wonderful Christmas poem from my very talented cousin. So really, if you think about it it's not my post at all! :) Hope you enjoy (even if it is a little late)!             

                                         The Tuesday Before Christmas
                                                               
                                                         by Allie Lloyd

‘Twas the Tuesday before Christmas,

And all was abuzz

The people weren’t ready—

In fact, no one was!

There were presents to wrap

 And stockings to hang,

Plus cookies to ice

Before the church bells rang!

But no one was more behind

It seemed

Than the old man himself—

It was worse than he’d dreamed.

“They’ve all forgotten,”

He said to himself.

“They think it’s all about

The toys on the shelf.”

“And why not?” he asked.

“I’ve been bad as they.

Pretending to ride

In some old-fangled sleigh.”

“The true reason has been buried—

Long ago forgotten.

Is there anything to be done

To keep Christmas from being rotten?”

“Of course there is,”

Said a voice from the hall.

“Don’t you remember why we’re here?

Why there’s a Christmas at all?”

“That’s the problem,”

Said the man to his wife.

“It’s all about presents now,

Not the true gift of Life.”

“That was to be

My job, you see.

To make sure they remembered—

And remembered with glee.”

“It started in Israel,

The place of His birth.

There were no pine trees then,

No cookies, no hearth.”

“I stood on street corners,

Telling the great news

That little town of Bethlehem—

Back then there was no ruse.”

“I gave presents to the poor,

As all are supposed to do,

And by and by

I gave to the rich, too.”

“This was my pattern,

I was being a Light.

Until I got scared

And started giving at night.”

“And that’s where I am now.

I have quite an operation.

The myth of Santa Claus

Has spread to almost every nation.”

“But as what cost?”

Cried he.

“No one remembers.

No one but me.”

“That’s not true.”

His wife hurried to add.

“There are plenty who remember,

And plenty who are glad.”

“If we all join our voices,

Together, it’s true,

There’s no telling—no telling

What our voices can do!”

“By jolly you’re right!

That’s just what I needed!”

And he hurried away,

His path not impeded.

Next Tuesday morning

Dawned happy and bright

Kids ran to the tree

After a restless night.

And under the tree

They found presents galore.

It was everything they had wanted—

Plus many more!

As they grabbed their gifts

Brought by good ol’ Saint Nick,

A note caught their eye—

They read it right quick.

“Dear child,” it read.

“I know you haven’t been good.

But you’re getting presents anyway.

Do you really think you should?”

“On this Christmas day

Two thousand years ago

God’s Son came to Earth

‘And lo

The angel of the Lord came upon them,

And the glory of the Lord shone round about them,

And they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, “Fear not:

For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,

Which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David

A Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you;

Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel

A multitude of heavenly hosts praising God, and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill to men.”’

[Luke 2:9-14]

We didn’t deserve

This most wondrous gift.

It was given to solve

The most awful rift

Between man and God

(Because of our naughtiness.)

This is the true reason

For this most joyous of seasons.

So as you open your presents

This Christmas morn

Just remember—

A Savior has been born!”

Media Minimization Challenge

   Over the last couple of weeks, God has been convicting me about my media usage, specifically the computer. And for most of that time I have been justifying it by comparing my time online to others time on other types. Until I saw these videos, and I felt God telling me it was time to get over myself and seek Him. So, I'm going to take the challenge this month, and you are my accountability partner! I knew if I posted what I was doing here, then I would have to do it, so make sure I do. And, what would be extra awesome, would be if you would do it with me! I will post the rules below so you know whats going on, and then pray about joining it with me.


Rules: 
- only 15 minutes a day of email time
- only 5 minutes a day of  emergency internet time ( i.e. looking up directions, paying bills, placing an order)
- NO internet at all on Sunday's
- at least 15 minutes a day of  time with God

And because blogs do not count as emergency time, I will not be updating this month. I will however receive comments in my inbox so feel free to comment if you are doing this and we can pray for each other!

Vision Forum

   Two posts in one day, I'm a real blogger now! No, actually, since I kinda bashed media in my last post, I wanted to share with you all some media that has actually encouraged my walk with God and has helped me to redeem my time here, as I am also entertained. My mom and I found Vision Forum a few months ago through a blog and we have made several purchases that we are very pleased with. They have a HUGE array of Christian books, toys, homeschool curriculum, and movies. Some of our favorite products in the movie department are: The Runner from Ravenshead (Lacey's all-time favorite!) and The Widows Might. These are two wonderful family movies that have great christian values as well as super cute story lines. So, hop on over, and before I forget, they are having a ginormous sale so you had better hop quickly! Happy shopping!


P.S. They are also having a great giveaway for gift certificates worth $100, $200 and $300!!! so run over to A Wise Woman Builds Her Home  to get your name in!

Eternity Perspective

¹⁷ For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
¹⁸ while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 
                                                                     2 Corinthians 4:17-18

    I wonder how often we see our daily lives as eternal, as vessels to impact eternity, as Paul does in these verses. Knowing the American way of life as I do I would venture to guess that few of us do. I know that I don't. I get caught up in myself, and what I want to do -whether that be watching television, reading a book, or just sitting around- and totally miss out on the fact that God has a plan for this moment of my life! So, often we quote Jeremiah 29:11 and use it to soothe our worries for the future, without realizing that it also applies to us now. It applies not just in a passive way either, this thought that God has a plan should spur us to action now!
    Step back with me for a moment and lets take a look at our lives. I once read that the average person spends approximately 4.5 hours a day on the computer and television. (This does not include texting, or videogames which can cause some people to easily rack up 10, 12, and ever 16 hours using some sort of media!) Now if Mr. Average keeps up the 4.5 hours a day thing, he will have, by the time he dies at 75*, have spent 14+** years on the computer and television!
   Oh, my friends, life is so short already, how can we justify squandering the time that we do have in such a manner? This time is not given to us, that we might spend it for ourselves, but that we might spend in the service of Him who gave it to us. We have not been placed here haphazardly, nor has our allotted time been given us randomly. We have been placed in our families, in our churches, and in our generations, that we might impact certain people. The time that we have is to be used as a tool to further this end, please, let's don't squander it on the temporal things of this world. I don't know about you, but it would absolutely break my heart if on judgement day, Christ asked me what I did with the time He had given me, and all I had to give Him was dust, when He deserves all that I am. We only get this one chance, this one gift of time to work for Christ, may we spend it with eternity in mind.



* This, of course, is assuming that you began seriously surfing the web at 2 months. (hehe)
** This is according to my very faulty math skills, and it does not take into account the other forms of media that are popular today (i.e. texting, videogames, etc...)

Dead Prayers

   There are no possibilities, no necessity, for prayerless praying; a heartless performance, a senseless routine, a dead habit, a hasty, careless performance - it justifies nothing. Prayerless praying has no life, gives no life; is dead, breathes out death. Not a battle-axe, but a child's toy, for play, not for service. Prayerless praying does not come up to the importance and aims of a recreation. Prayerless praying is only a weight, an impediment in the hour of struggle, of intense conflict, a call to retreat in the moment of battle and victory...
   The process of hindering prayer by crowding [it] out is simple and goes by advancing stages. First, prayer is hurried through. Unrest and agitation, fatal to all devout exercises, come in. Then the time is shortened, [and] relish for the exercise palls. Then it is crowded into a corner and depends on the fragments of time for its exercise. Its value depreciates. The duty has lost its importance. It no longer commands respect nor brings benefit. It has fallen out of estimate, out of heart, out of the habits, out of the life. We cease to pray, and cease to live spiritually.

                                            - E.M.Bounds in Purpose in Prayer

Beautiful Dreamer

   The crescendo and diminuendo rise and fall within me as if a part of me. The lilting melodies lift my feet and spin me around the room, while the haunting strains expand until I think that I will burst. Through this all, a picture is forming in my minds eye; I see it as if through a fog, always taunting, always just out of reach, always perfect. It creates in my chest an ache. If I could only get past this mist that is clouding my view, if I could only find myself in this breathtaking, unearthly, land. I chide myself for my discontent spirit, and then I wonder. I wonder if it is wrong to dream of this place that will never be. 'Or perhaps', the whisper comes, 'perhaps it will.' What if, this is how I am to long for my true home, what if, it is my true home. I am a pilgrim after all, and as such, is it wrong to dream of going home? Can I be called discontent for fixing my eyes on what is ahead as I have been commanded? No, I won't thrust this to the side. I will instead embrace it, and allow it to renew my world-worn soul. I will allow it to lift my heart and mind to higher and nobler things, as I look to that which is ahead. Yes, this is a beautiful dream, one to be kept guarded and sacred. Kept until the day that my Father makes it come true and I live happily ever after!

Rak Chazak

Ellerslie's latest BraveheartedTHOT!
Very powerful, and convicting!

In the Wilderness

 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness
                                                         -Mark 1:12

   There is an important principle that is mentioned in three of the gospels, but is often overlooked by many of us today, and that is the principle of preparation. In our society today we can cook a meal in 5 minutes or order one in two. Unless the battery is dead, our cars start when we turn the key (no more of this hand cranking business). And instead of having to "prime the pump" water comes out of the faucet with the slightest push on the knob. This mindset seems to have crept into our walk with Christ, and we expect to become 'fully equipped' Christians within minutes of our salvation. We discard seasons of waiting on God's direction as "wasting time", and we jump headlong into Christian ministry without the slightest particle of preparation. Jesus Christ, the son of God, perfect, sinless, and "fully equipped unto every good work", spent forty days in the wilderness in preparation for His ministry. It wasn't because He was second guessing God's call, or postponing the inevitable, it was that He understood the importance of spiritual, physical, and mental preparation.
   I like to think of this in relation to the Sabbath. Did God really need to rest on the seventh day, or was He setting a precedent for us? Likewise, how much of Jesus' time in the wilderness was necessary and how much was for our benefit?
   Our world has changed in the last 100-200 years. We no longer live the simple, slow paced life that our ancestors did, and we expect God to adapt to this. In reality, He is the same "yesterday, today and forever" and He is calling us to adapt to Him. He is to be found not in the hustle and bustle of every day life (though He is most certainly there) He is instead to be communed with in the quiet place. Are we listening to His direction, and allowing Him to sanctify and prepare us each and every day?
   Yes, that idea for an orphanage in Zimbabwe is a wonderful and God given idea, but have you spent time allowing God to prepare you and to give you His directions? Yes, that is a wonderful, godly person, and you feel God wants you marry them, but have you spent a season in prayer, waiting on His timing? Yes, going to church on Sunday is an excellent thing to do, but have you prepared your heart for the sermon?
   God sanctifies and refines us through the little things He places in front of us, the small daily tasks or steps of faith. But if we are too busy  jumping into the next big thing, then we may miss the simple yet essential lessons, or the small but beautiful truths that come to us in the wilderness. Do you have a wilderness where you can retreat for quiet and rest, or do you only know the bustle of the city? Christ is calling us to "come away" with Him. Will we listen, will we respond?

Conforming to anti- conformity?

   Yesterday I read a very convicting post, and while not all the illustrations apply to me, the core of the post hit me between the eyes.
   I am a people pleaser, and not just any people pleaser I am an opinionated people pleaser. Course, thing is, my opinions are geared toward pleasing people. (oxymoron? I think, yes.) I decide not to conform to the world and in doing so attempt to conform myself to a different group of people, albeit more Christ-like. Now, I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with doing things the same as other people (anti-conformity for any other reason that following Christ is just as wrong), because if we are all following Christ's lead, there may very well be some aspects of our lives that look like someone else's. I am saying, however, that when we begin following others instead of Christ, we will just be conforming in a different way.
   I love to read, and I love to learn about how to be a Christian. Mix these two loves together and you will know why my Christian Living books are knocking other books off my shelf. Now, I think that it is very important to fill your mind with edifying literature, but in my case, I have been taking the opinions of others at face value, making them my opinions, instead of letting God's word guide my convictions as I discussed in a previous post. As, true as something may be, I am robbing myself of a strong and sound faith. I will be more prone to be 'tossed... about by every wind of doctrine', instead of being 'firmly planted' as God has called me to be.
   Is there any place in your life where you are conforming to someone else's standard? (and again don't freak out if someone else holds some of the same views and convictions as you, that is to be expected) I know that I'm not the only one who struggles with this. If you are, what are some ways that you can get back to Christ? For me, this means laying aside all of my Christian Living books for then next week or so, but it may look different for you. Do you have any beliefs that you are not convinced about? Let's take the next few days and together search our lives. Lets pray that God will 'try our reins' and 'search our hearts'. If you want to I would love to hear what you have discovered. (and if you have trouble commenting, try commenting under 'anonymous' and then leaving your name so I will know who you are) And don't forget to pray for me, as I hammer out my own faith and attempt to conform to the person of Christ instead of someone else's pattern.

Renewing our minds

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
                                                -Romans 12:2



   I've heard the first part of this verse many times in conjunction with messages on being yourself, so when, during a quiet time, I read the full verse in its proper context, it provided me with a full day of meditation. As I took the verse apart phrase by phrase, God revealed to me such incredible truths! As I said before, I had heard all about anti-conformity, but I wasn't sure how to go about it until I read the second part of the verse, and then it made so much sense! I realized that if I was filling my head with worldly things then I was going to conform to the world, but by filling my heart and mind with God's word I would slowly begin to look more like Him. This really excited me; I had never heard about this remedy to conformity, and it was so simple. Then I read the last part and I had to stop and think for a minute. What did 'prove' mean? I looked it up in "Vines Expository  Dictionary of New Testament Words" and this simple definition: "to test, prove, with the expectation of approving", really brought the whole verse into a new light. When we begin to renew our minds, not only will we begin to look less like the world and more like Christ, but we will be better able to discern, "to test" and "prove" His will. So often we over complicate the process of discerning God's will for our lives, but here He has given us a simple and effective formula. He is telling us that if we will only abide in Him and continually renew our minds by spending time in His word, then His will, is not going to be so hard to find, and that is an incredible promise!

The Case for Hymns

O God, our help in ages past, 
 our hope for years to come, 
 our shelter from the stormy blast, 
 and our eternal home. 

I have a thing for hymns. Not that I don't like contemporary Christian music, because I do. I just don't think that anything can top a good hymn! Now, most of my generation would disagreewith me on this point, and I'm fine with that, in fact, I'm used to getting strange looks when I admit that I don't listen to theradio. But,I'd like to speak to my generation anyway, and make a case for hymns.It's common knowledge that the best way to learn about a culture is to read it's literature, and I would venture to say that the same is true about hymns. Alot of times we look at the past generations and sigh, because they seemed to have so much victory in their lives and were always so strong, and we despairof ever being like them. We grow discouraged because we will neverknow how to live such full,beautiful lives. I would disagree with that! The great Christians of old have left behind them, the 'secret' to unlocking the victorious life,in the form of hymns. If you really look at the words you are singing, instead of dwelling on the (to your mind) boring tune, you would realize the incredible power and glory that the hymns attribute to God, and the wondrous things that the writers have witnessed through that power! You would learnof the rewards of complete sacrifice and acceptance. You would hearfirst hand accounts of the joys of following Jesus! I truly believe that if more of my generation would realize the treasure trove that is the hymnal, we might see more of the spirit of the great men of old here again.And that would be an incredible sight!

Modern Rome

³⁰ and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’ 
                                       -  Matthew 23:30




   The crowd perches on the edge of their seats as the lion stalks out of its cage. As one, they swing their eyes to the trembling victim in the middle of the arena. Hushed whispers and little else can be heard as the lion circles its prey. If your close enough, you can count its ribs and see the cold, hungry look in its eye. Suddenly, as though some-how connected, the lion and crowd surge forward, reveling in the carnage.

  Know what that is? Yep, you guessed it, the Colosseum; the most astounding symbol of human depravity, probably ever. But you know what, when you turn the hard, stadium seating, into plush chairs, and the lion into a zombie, I have just described the nightly scene in many homes and theaters nation wide. Think about that one! 

   We can condemn the Romans for their depraved blood lust, and thank our lucky stars that we live in a civilized era, but the truth is, Americans today are just as blood thirsty as the ancient Romans!  

   I see your head nodding through my computer screen, but I'm about to add a twist that might get you where it hurts. You ready? The difference between the bloody arenas of yesteryear and the high tech t.v. screens of today, is this: while in Rome the Christians were the ones suffering for the entertainment of the masses, the Christians in America are the masses. 

   You can spit and sputter all you want about how there is a difference, but I fail to see how watching zombies suck peoples brains out ( I guess that's what happens?)  and watching lions rip them to shreds is that different. Oh, and lest you use the argument that its not real, I want you to consider the motive. Why is that even an option for Christians today? Our God is a God of life and of light, not of darkness and death. We are called to live in His glorious light, and no where in the Bible are light and death compared. In fact, darkness and death are more often used, consider these verses: Job 3:5, Psalm 107:10-11, and Psalm 107:14. 

   Now I don't say these things to judge anyone, but to exhort my brothers and sisters in Christ. (and contrary to popular belief, sometimes that includes saying hard things) I am saddened by the state of modern Christianity, it has all the weakness of the world and none of the strength of Christ. And I truly believe that once we stop acting like the world we will shed it's weakness and its inhibitions and learn to live productive, victorious lives. Lets step out and live differently. Let's show with our actions (or lack thereof) that we are sick to death of this 'arena Christianity' and we are ready to live outside of modern Rome, 'in a land where we'll never grow old'.

A Great Honor

 ¹³ If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

                                     -Luke 11:13

¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

                           -James 1:17

I have often struggled with the concept of Gods love. I mean, yes, I know that He loves me, but when people would start saying  (or I would read in the Bible) that God wants to give good gifts to His children I would balk, as I thought about all of the bad things that often befall His people. On Monday as I was pondering this, I had the distinct impression that I should ask God to make His view known to me, so I let a half formed prayer whisper through my mind, before I was needed to go do something else. As, the day went on I completely forgot about this (to my mind) insignificant prayer, until, that is, God answered it! I was listening to Bro. Darvie preach (he is the preacher for our missions revival), about Esther and how God used her to save her people, and then he said that God could have used the magnificent angels or a great blazing signs in the heavens, but He chose instead to use people to work out His plan. It was then that I remembered that little half- formed prayer, and it was then that I knew that everyday, through sunshine and storms, God was giving us the second greatest gift He could ever present (next to salvation): the extreme privilege of being allowed to have a hand in His great and awesome plan! And while I still haven't fully grasped this amazing concept, and will probably have days where I will still balk and wonder, I can always rest in the knowledge that God never does anything on accident, and that He promises to guide us each and every day!

Stepping Heavenward

I have been reading "Stepping Heavenward" by Elisabeth Prentiss for the last couple of days, and I have never been so blessed by a book! Although it was written in the 1800s it is more applicable than even most modern books. It is written in diary format and so many of the emotions of Katy, the main character, so many of the things that she struggles with are things that I have said before. In fact, in the few days before I picked this book I was really struggling with some doubts and some questions and I'm sure that God was smiling as He knew that He was going to use this book to answer every one of those questions.
    I'm probably butchering this, as I can't seem to articulate everything I want to say, but I truly cannot recommend this book enough! In fact I would love to buy everyone of you a copy if I could, but since I can't I'll just tell you that you can buy the book here. I hope that you do buy it and are as blessed as I have been!

The Lord laughs...

³ Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.⁹ For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth.¹⁰ For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more.¹² The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth.¹³ The Lord laughs at him, For He sees that his day is coming.
                                        -Psalm 37:3,9-10,12-13


  Today being to tenth anniversary of 9-11, the war on terrorism is on my mind a little more than usual. So, when I read these verses, the 'evildoers' that came to mind were the terrorists. I don't know about you, but I have a really overactive imagination, so when I hear about how the terrorists are infiltrating us from the inside, or anything else along those lines, my mind instantly imagines the worst and I begin making a game plan for how we can stop them. And then I read, verse thirteen of Psalm 37: "The Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming". Can you just imagine God sitting in heaven laughing at the arrogance of this -to Him- tiny and insignificant nation, as He pictures the day that He will demolish them? Its almost like one would laugh at a child who is bragging about saving the day with his water gun! My God is greater, stronger, and mightier than anything, or anyone, and He says that the nations are "as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the scales;"! So who am I to be afraid?

Anne of the Island

   I forgot how much I love the 'Anne of Green Gables' series, until I started reading the abridged version of 'Anne of Green Gables' to Lacey. It inspired me to begin re-reading some of the books that I have, and I have discovered that Anne and I are truly 'kindred spirits'. I'm actually very 'Anneish'  on the inside, and I have always been able to relate so well to Anne's thoughts and feelings, especially in this book as she is growing up and looking back on her life. But, I think the thing that struck me the most, as I was going back through this classic, is the abundance of spiritual wisdom that L.M.M. has tucked so naturally into its pages, unlike alot of modern authors whose spiritual quips seem forced and scripted. One in particular sparked a great deal of thought and reflection, and I wanted to share it with you all. It is one of the few truly tragic parts in the series, but is also very profound.

   Anne sat in a pain that was almost intolerable. She could not tell comforting falsehoods; and all that Ruby said was so horribly true. She was leaving everything she cared for. [Ruby] had laid up her treasures on earth only; she had lived solely for the little things of life -the things that pass- forgetting  the great things that go onward into eternity, bridging the gulf between the two lives and making of death a mere passing from one dwelling to another -from twilight to unclouded day...  Anne walked home very slowly in the moonlight. The evening had changed something for her... When she came she came to the end of one life, it must not be to face the next with the shrinking terror of something wholly different- something for which accoustomed  thought and ideal and aspiration had unfitted her. The little things of life, sweet and excellent in their place, must not be the things lived for; the highest must be sought and followed; the life of heaven must be begun here on earth.
                                          - Anne of the Island

Planking

³And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 
⁵ Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
                                  - Matthew 7: 3-5

     I memorized these verses several years ago for my Bible class in school and they sounded pretty hilarious to my childish mind. I would imagine myself with a board sticking out of my eye, hitting peoples heads with it as I turned to look at them. And while that is amusing to think of, its also painful, because with my (slightly) more mature teenage mind, I can see so clearly the truth in it. You see, I have a problem with pride...not one of those little annoying habits, but a serious problem. I can honestly say that 97% of all of my sin issues have their origin in  pride. It especially manifests itself in my judgmental spirit. I can profess to love someone dearly, as mentally run over every thing about them that bugs me. I can hug them and laugh with them as I plot how to tell them just exactly what I think of a certain character flaw that they possess. I can tell them I'm praying for them and try to give them a spiritual lift, when not ten minutes earlier I was gossiping about how they really need to get right with God because their life is going down the drain. And especially frustrating to me is when I'm supposed to be listening to a great sermon, but I'm really sitting there wondering if so-and-so is paying attention to the message. (as if I am!)   In fact, just to be honest (and also to practice some much needed humility) I'm sitting here writing this right now, trying not to hope that certain people will read this post.
   The more I reflect on this tendency, the more I realize that I truly am hitting people in the head! I try to help them see the error of their ways ( in a rather self-righteous way) when in reality I'm pushing them farther and farther away because of this painful plank.
   I'm going to end this post a little differently today. Instead of asking everyone to search their hearts or join me as I seek to rid my life of this pesky problem (though that would be great!). I am instead going to ask for prayer. Pray for me that I will allow God to have His way in my life, no matter how hard it may be on my pride, and that I may become an empty vessel, ready to be filled with Him and poured back out. And that maybe, I won't hit anyone else in the head with this plank.

What Manner of Person ought I to be?

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 
¹¹ Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
                                                2 Peter 3:10-11

  I don't know about you, but these verses hit me right between the eyes. I mean, I've always known the concept behind them, but having it so clearly laid out really brought it home. I heard an expression once, I can't remember the exact wording, that talked about people going to heaven smelling like smoke, because everything that they did here was burned up, it didn't count! So, I started thinking, what manner of person ought I to be? How does God want me to live my life, so that when I stand before Him one day to give an account, I don't 'smell like smoke'? And God, in all of His faithfulness, has used these last few days to show me ways that I need to grow in Him and redeem the time that He has given me. Now, I'm not going to go into the things that He has taught me in this post, I may later. I just want to encourage you to join me as I search my heart, and together we can  ask ourselves, "what manner of person ought we to be?"

To Joel

   Yesterday morning my youth ministers 5 year old son Joel, went to be with Jesus. Joel was the sweetest, happiest little boy I've ever met, so brave through everything. I didn't know him long or see him often, but when I did see him, he was smiling and laughing, and playing, loving life and the people in it. His father too, is an incredible example. He loved his son, but I never saw him become bitter, and people that were around him more often than me, said that he always had a positive, joyful attitude. He was always so full of faith, praying for his son and trusting God to hear and answer him. And I believe that God answered all of our prayers, because Joel is now in His presence, running with the angels, completely healed. Joel's short life has touched so many, more than many, much longer lives. And as much as it breaks my heart that he is no longer here, I am so thankful that God let Joel and his family cross my path. I love you guys!
Below is a video of  Joel's wish for the 'Make a Wish' foundation.

Could this be true of me?

   This morning during my quiet time, I ran across this devotion in Oswald Chambers, 'My Utmost for His Highest' and it really convicted me about the way that I am living out my Christianity. So, I hope you all read this slowly and prayerfully, and ask yourselves, if this is true of you.
     
   'But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself.' Acts 20:24
  
  It is easier to serve God without a vision, easier to work for God without a call, because then you are not bothered by what God requires; common sense is your guide, veneered over with Christian sentiment. You will be more prosperous and successful, more leisure-hearted, if you never realize the call of God. But if once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, them memory of what God wants will always come like a goad; you will no longer be able to work for Him on the common-sense basis.
  What do I really count dear? If I have not been gripped by Jesus Christ, I will count service dear, time given to God dear, my life dear unto myself. Paul says he counted his life dear only in order that he might fulfill the ministry he had received; he refused to use his energy for any other thing. Acts 20:24 states Paul's almost sublime annoyance at being asked to consider himself; he was absolutely indifferent to any consideration other than that of fulfilling the ministry he had received. Practical work my be a competitor against abandonment to God, because practical work is based on this argument- 'Remember how useful you are here. or - Think how much value you would be in that particular type of work.' That attitude does not put Jesus Christ as the Guide at to where we should go, but our judgment as to where we are of most use. Never consider whether you are of use; but ever consider that you are not you own but His.
                     -Oswald Chambers

No Boundaries

We are apt to say that because a man has a natural ability, therefore he will make a good Christian. It is not a question of our equipment but of our poverty, not of what we bring with us, but of what God puts into us; not a question of natural virtues of strength of character, knowledge, and experience- all that is of no avail in this matter. - Oswald Chambers


   I think that a lot of times we as Christians get really hung up on the whole spiritual gift thing. We take tests to determine our spiritual gifts, and then get boxed in by the results. Now, I am not saying that its wrong to take these tests, they are great ways of determining our strengths and weaknesses, but I am saying that we don't need to live by them. The whole point of the Christian life, is to showcase Jesus, and to let Him live in and through us. We can't do this if we are dependent on our own strengths, if we shun a wonderful ministry opportunity that Christ is calling us to, because public speaking is not on our list of spiritual gifts. Christ said that in our weakness, His strength would be made known. (2 Corinthians 12:9) We cannot, must not, limit God. We cannot not put boundaries around ourselves and expect to live a victorious Christian life, that glorifies our Creator. We must die to self, and in doing so die to all of our strengths and all of our weakness, and adopt Christ's. And guess what? He doesn't have limits; His weakest is stronger than our strongest. (1 Corinthians 1:25)  We must learn to live in a strength not our own. We must learn to live a life with out boundaries.