Decisions

This weekend was I think very important... I went to Boise with my parents to attend some meetings where a good friend was speaking. As usual I enjoyed the speaker as he flowed in his natural prophetic gift, and there were many good things being said. However, this time was different. I don't know if it is just because times are changing, I am growing up, I have a different view, or God was just doing something different, but different it was. I enjoyed the meeting, it was full of power and encouragement, but this time I had to figure out what I thought of it Biblicaly. I have since then come to the conclusion that what I heard of it was Biblical, but there was a while that I really had to search for the answers that I could only find in the Word.
There was another interesting time in Boise, my family (I have a rather large one) were all gathered at my aunts house, and just visiting when a heated debate about Christian activity in the government broke out. All sides made good points, and I did not think much of it until today. Today I found out that my cousin was involved in a Police Brutality Protest, where there was a lot of commotion, some shooting and ultimately many people were arrested. (She is fine, and the experience I believe has been good for her. ) This made me think. At what point do we get involved in this? Personally I believe that much of that decision should be on an individual basis, but at the same time, I think that it is time we...or at least I made that decision.
I am now an adult, I am by no means old, but I am at the age where these things, the way I live out this life that has been given to me, must be decided. I am part of the face of the next generation, and I am the one who is going to have to decide how this next 50 years will go. But here is the trick, the wonderful awareness that comes..."not I but Christ in me, the hope of Glory." "For I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who lives." And it is in that knowledge, and awareness that the decision must be made.
(Weather or not you read my blog, just writing it down has helped me to think through a lot of what has happened=) )

Look Closley

One thing I have noticed more lately than ever before, is that if you are not looking to God, then there is nowhere to turn. This month, our family has faced seemingly impossible situations, where the only place to go is up...happily, that is where we went, and we have seen the goodness of God come through. He has shown Himself strong on behalf of His people. It was really not a big thing, but at the same time it was too big for us. Our prayers were answered, and my faith is high.
At the same time, there are many people upset at our government rite now, and it would seem that we are faced with a problem that is really too big for us to handle...but I can assure you that it is by no means too big for Him to handle. Now, I know that you know this, but at the same time it is good to be reminded of it. God it would seem prefers to save His people at the last possible moment. Rite before the end, it is then that He often chooses to show Himself. The trick is to believe even unto the end that He will come through for you. When Jesus went to the cross, it seemed as though God was too late, that it was passed the end, but....He knew what he was doing, and all is always in His timing.
If we look closely, we can see God all around. I firmly believe that God is the primary, and not the secondary cause of history, and the goings on of the world. It was no accident that America was born, that we have helped to spread liberty all over the world. It was no accident that Napoleon was defeated. It was no accident that Rome ruled the world when it did. These things are not the cause of the time line of the world, but rather the result of what God is doing. He is still around and working today. We read the story of Ester, and the famous words "For such a time as this." Could it also be true that we were born for such a time? That the fields are white for the harvest, and that God is searching the Earth to find someone who will gather it, who will spread His word? God is moving, He is speaking, He has a plan, and a strategy. If you will look closely and pray that the eyes of your heart will be opened. Stop. Listen. Know that this is a time unlike any other, and God is very near...

St. Patricks Day

I love St Patrick's Day. It is one of my favorite holidays. Have you ever studied St Patrick himself? He was an amazing man to say the least. He lived somewhere between 350-450 A. D. (well before the catholic church) and was raised in England. When he was about 15 he was picked up in a raid and taken to be a slave in Ireland for the next 10 (or so) years. He had been raised Christian, and during his time as a slave, his love and devotion to God, as well as the safety and assurance he felt from God, only grew. One night he heard the audible voice of God telling him to...Return to his homeland. And so he did. He made a rather fastening journey, it was very roundabout, but he finally made it back to England. Once there, he began to feel very heavily that God was calling him back to Ireland as a missionary.
Thus he went, with only Gods word to sustain him, back to the people who had enslaved him as a youth. He is famously associated with the 3-leaf Clover, or Shamrock...the reason is because the three leaves were a perfect illustration as to how God can be one God and Three Persons. Just as it is one clover with three leaves.
In his later years, he went all over the known world starting churches. He operated in the supernatural every day, and it was said that he would raise people from the dead daily. He started many praise and worship centers, and multiple mission schools where he taught young people to know the word of God, and to operate in it, and to go out into the world. The movements which he started were not stopped until Constantine, and the rise of the Catholic Church. Thus, St. Patrick was a truly remarkable man. Here is the prayer he prayed daily. I love it, and I hope you will too...

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Through the power of the Trinity
The Three in One
The One in Three
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a mulitude.

Christ shield me today
Against wounding
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through the mighty strength
Of the Lord of creation

Spring Fever

Well, it may only be March 8th, but it is most definitely beginning to be spring, and EVERYONE that I know has spring fever. God is so good; yesterday, as you must know, was Sunday...I stayed home this weekend, instead of going home (does that make since?) and whenever I stay home I get lonely on Sunday, because that it the day that I usually spend with family. Well, I was sitting at my house feeling lonely, and looked outside at the warm sun and thought "There is no way I am going to stay inside when it is so beautiful outside!" So, taking a well placed suggestion from my mother, I grabbed my books and headed to the park for some lovely outdoor reading.
Upon getting there, however, I ran into a friend of mine who had taken his kids to the park, and was able to sit and visit for a few hours. It was a lovely time, and I cannot help but be thankful that God has given me both the ability to walk to the park on a Sunday afternoon, and the ability to have friends close by who are willing and able to talk to me. Another thing is that I realized how close I actually am to another friends house, as I passed it on my way to the park.

Point Taken

Diligence, Consistency, and Self Control are the words for this next thing that God is doing in my life. And let me say, that He is really making His point. The other day, when I was journoling He was telling me that it is time that I really learn how to be consistent, and push myself. Then, the next day I was reading and came across the Scripture where Paul says "If a man does not work, neither shall he eat." The next day was Sunday, and the pastor decided it would be a good day to preach on diligence, and the importance of using what you have. The next day, as I was at work logging into some books, and hearing what was over the radio, the man was talking about using what you have, and using it unto the Lord day in and day out. Is it just me, or is Someone trying to say something here!
Now, here is the amazing part...inasmuch as God wants us to daily work hard, be diligent and self controlled, He has also provided a day of rest. Most of us do not understand the meaning of the Sabbath anymore, we like having Saturday off of work and all, but we don't understand the purpose that God intended. Jesus said that the Sabbath was created for man. It was created to give us a day dot relax, rest, and remember and concentrate on what we are living for, to re-center all that we are doing, and encourage us to continue on for the rest of the week. Now, do we have a wonderful God or what! He gives us something to work hard at, to go for with all that is in us (weekday!) and then gives us a day to stop and see what we have done, and why we have done it.