someone put his song with this video. The words ,"thank you for showing me the emptiness of all held unto" never were more vivid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0uxDQYYsC0
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Going to the unfamiliar places
I have absolutely no sense of direction! It takes me a while to walk the same path in order to know it well. Oh, I guess there goes my dream of being a tour guide :). And if that wasn't enough, I also hate surprises- they make me nervious, insecure and just annoy me, really. I can't enjoy them.Boy, am I in trouble or am I trouble!?!?!?! God loves both- unfamiliar places AND surprises!
With my Bible Study group here we're studying Joshua. Our last time we read Joshua 3. I challenge you to read it- lots of good stuff there. Having a phobia of unknown things- couple moments in that Scripture stood up to me more than before.
Joshua 3:2-4 "After three days the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before..."
How can we follow GOD to the place we've never been before? That unknown place was their Promise Land- a place they've dreamed about for 400 years or so....and now it's so close!
As you read Joshua 3, you'll pick up few keys Joshua gave :
in vv. 9-17 you'll see them:
1. Come to God.
2. Listen to His Word. (I like the fact that he didn't say, "drag your Jordan to me and make it listen to Me"...but He began with us- YOU come and listen...let me consecrate you through and through...bathe in My Presence and My Words. And about the Jordan- that's My problem).
3. Consecrate yourself. (make it right with God...spend more time with Him, make sure your heart is in the right place).
4. Now believe God for great things , even those that seemed impossible! ( God promised to get rid of all their enemies- all the "ites" nations. Someone told me that "ites" means snakes. But I wonder if if they had to face more enemies than just "ites"; enemy like "fear " was something more real at the moment).
5. Get your feet wet. They didn't see the miracle until the very first toes actually got in the water.
So, what is your unknow land God is leading you to? What is your Jordan- the obstacle too impossible to get over? How wet are your feet? God is bigger than our phobia, He is way bigger than Jordan and all the "ites" together. Our Promise Land in our journey with Christ is waiting- will you cross the Jordan with me or will you stay on the shore and miss the blessing.
2007 is a place none of us has been before. Let's get busy and get ready for a trip!
With my Bible Study group here we're studying Joshua. Our last time we read Joshua 3. I challenge you to read it- lots of good stuff there. Having a phobia of unknown things- couple moments in that Scripture stood up to me more than before.
Joshua 3:2-4 "After three days the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before..."
How can we follow GOD to the place we've never been before? That unknown place was their Promise Land- a place they've dreamed about for 400 years or so....and now it's so close!
As you read Joshua 3, you'll pick up few keys Joshua gave :
in vv. 9-17 you'll see them:
1. Come to God.
2. Listen to His Word. (I like the fact that he didn't say, "drag your Jordan to me and make it listen to Me"...but He began with us- YOU come and listen...let me consecrate you through and through...bathe in My Presence and My Words. And about the Jordan- that's My problem).
3. Consecrate yourself. (make it right with God...spend more time with Him, make sure your heart is in the right place).
4. Now believe God for great things , even those that seemed impossible! ( God promised to get rid of all their enemies- all the "ites" nations. Someone told me that "ites" means snakes. But I wonder if if they had to face more enemies than just "ites"; enemy like "fear " was something more real at the moment).
5. Get your feet wet. They didn't see the miracle until the very first toes actually got in the water.
So, what is your unknow land God is leading you to? What is your Jordan- the obstacle too impossible to get over? How wet are your feet? God is bigger than our phobia, He is way bigger than Jordan and all the "ites" together. Our Promise Land in our journey with Christ is waiting- will you cross the Jordan with me or will you stay on the shore and miss the blessing.
2007 is a place none of us has been before. Let's get busy and get ready for a trip!
A Christmas Wish/ Hint
A College Student writes a letter home:
"Dear Father,
School i$ really great. I am making lot$ of friend$ and $tudying very hard. With all my $tuff, I $imply can't think of anything I need for Christma$, $o, if you would like, you can ju$t $end me a card, a$ I would love to hear from you.
Love, your $on."
After receiving his son's letter, the father immedeiately replied :
Dear Son,
I kNOw that astroNOmy, ecoNOmy and oceaNOgraphy are eNOugh to keep even an hoNOr student busy. Do NOt forget that the pursuit of kNOwledge is a NOble task and you can never study eNOugh.
Love,
Dad"
:):):):):):):):) I love you all friends...hope all of you got what you wished for Christmas.
My Christmas was great! I spend sometime home opening presents with my husband. I really think I'll be worse than our kids, because when it comes to Christmas I am a joke of the week- I get up early, make my coffee and bugg my husband to hurry up to start opening presents. He takes his stinking time, just because he enjoys watching a nerveracking Russian sitting by the tree in expectation. LOL
I was blessed this year, he always does more than I expect. My friends blessed me with their love, support and warmth- what more can I wish.
Thank you Jesus! It's Your Birthday, but I get all the presents- you truly love me, don't You? ;) :):):):):):):):):):)
"Dear Father,
School i$ really great. I am making lot$ of friend$ and $tudying very hard. With all my $tuff, I $imply can't think of anything I need for Christma$, $o, if you would like, you can ju$t $end me a card, a$ I would love to hear from you.
Love, your $on."
After receiving his son's letter, the father immedeiately replied :
Dear Son,
I kNOw that astroNOmy, ecoNOmy and oceaNOgraphy are eNOugh to keep even an hoNOr student busy. Do NOt forget that the pursuit of kNOwledge is a NOble task and you can never study eNOugh.
Love,
Dad"
:):):):):):):):) I love you all friends...hope all of you got what you wished for Christmas.
My Christmas was great! I spend sometime home opening presents with my husband. I really think I'll be worse than our kids, because when it comes to Christmas I am a joke of the week- I get up early, make my coffee and bugg my husband to hurry up to start opening presents. He takes his stinking time, just because he enjoys watching a nerveracking Russian sitting by the tree in expectation. LOL
I was blessed this year, he always does more than I expect. My friends blessed me with their love, support and warmth- what more can I wish.
Thank you Jesus! It's Your Birthday, but I get all the presents- you truly love me, don't You? ;) :):):):):):):):):):)
You know You're Living in 2007 when....
1. You accidentally enter your PIN on the microwave.
2. You haven't played solitaire with the real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone ## to reach your family of three.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that you don't have their e-mails.
6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.
7. Every commercial on TV has a website at the bottom of the screen.
8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have just few years ago, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
9. You get up in the morning and go online before getting your coffee.
10. You start tilting your head sideways to smile :)
MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! By the way! I still don't do #9- PRAISE GOD!!!!
2. You haven't played solitaire with the real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone ## to reach your family of three.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that you don't have their e-mails.
6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.
7. Every commercial on TV has a website at the bottom of the screen.
8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have just few years ago, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
9. You get up in the morning and go online before getting your coffee.
10. You start tilting your head sideways to smile :)
MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! By the way! I still don't do #9- PRAISE GOD!!!!
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Fath-stretching promise
I have shared this story with the few of my friends. If you go to Montaclair Corps, you probably heard it from your officer :)
Anyways...about a month and a half ago our pastor challenged us to give a faith promise- extra money on top of the tithes and offerings, and that faith promise would go to our missioneries that we support.
Before the service began I have already decided in my heart how much "my faith can afford" :)...So, here comes time to pray and our pastor says this , "If it doesn't scare you, it's probably not a faith promise". I tried to dismiss that one, because I already decided how much "faith" I'll give today (not to be cheap or anything ) LOL...
So , I close my eyes and here is the conversation that took place between God and me:
Me: ok, LORD, how much do you want me to give? You do remember that I don't have that much this time, so please, have mercy on me.
GOD: $100.
Me: ????
God: $100
Me:$50 it is, Lord!
God: $100- trust me on that one.
Me: I can trust you for $50 too, it's a stretch for me, you know.
God: But does it scare you?
Me: well....define "scare"...$50 I can handle, that I am sure I can find in case of emergency.....so what do you think?
God: you know what I think...
Me: Let me pray about it first...
God: LOL (I can almost picture Him going through His holy hair and laughing).
Me:....is our pastor EVER going to stop praying....
God: so, child, would you believe Me for $100 extra each month?
Me: I guess...let's do it....
Finally, I have heard an "amen" coming from my pastor....Never before have I desired an "amen" as much!..I thought I was done, but the real test just begun!
My husband looks at me and asks me ," so how much did God tell you?"....I look down and whisper under my breath , "$50?".....
"NOOO"- Zach replys and continues ," God told me how much and He told me what He told you too...so how much?"....sigh...."does He tell you EVERYTHING?....$100, that's what He told me"....
Zach said ,"that's what we're going to pledge, honey"..... OK....
I came home and had a conversation with GOD, telling Him , "I know we both heard from You $100....and frankly it does scare me a lot, but this I know- You will not fail me....so, LORD, I am willing to go on that adventure with YOU, increase my faith, help my unbelief. You have created seas and trees, You can do anything, so why am I fussing over it, that's just silly....let's do it! Actually, YOU DO it and I'll just stand and watch the glory of the LORD"......I felt Him smile over me.....
Since that few things happened :
-within 2 days I got blessed with $145- just because. People were giving me money, because they felt to.
-I got blessed with the tickets to visit my best friend Carole
-my TV broke and the very next day a friend of mine had an extra one and she wanted to give it to us.
-I got a computer for free
-the tires on my car were still under warantee (sp?), so I got it done for free
-my electricity bill was unusually small
-I did pay my very first faith promise in full!!!!
-I started Christmas shopping and I actually have some money left!
.....Just think about it....some stupid $100 fuss was actually a key to unlock a bigger blessing.....
What is GOD asking you today? What do you have to loose? (other than an OK stuff exchanged for BETTER!)..
Let's believe GOD even when He makes no sense!
Anyways...about a month and a half ago our pastor challenged us to give a faith promise- extra money on top of the tithes and offerings, and that faith promise would go to our missioneries that we support.
Before the service began I have already decided in my heart how much "my faith can afford" :)...So, here comes time to pray and our pastor says this , "If it doesn't scare you, it's probably not a faith promise". I tried to dismiss that one, because I already decided how much "faith" I'll give today (not to be cheap or anything ) LOL...
So , I close my eyes and here is the conversation that took place between God and me:
Me: ok, LORD, how much do you want me to give? You do remember that I don't have that much this time, so please, have mercy on me.
GOD: $100.
Me: ????
God: $100
Me:$50 it is, Lord!
God: $100- trust me on that one.
Me: I can trust you for $50 too, it's a stretch for me, you know.
God: But does it scare you?
Me: well....define "scare"...$50 I can handle, that I am sure I can find in case of emergency.....so what do you think?
God: you know what I think...
Me: Let me pray about it first...
God: LOL (I can almost picture Him going through His holy hair and laughing).
Me:....is our pastor EVER going to stop praying....
God: so, child, would you believe Me for $100 extra each month?
Me: I guess...let's do it....
Finally, I have heard an "amen" coming from my pastor....Never before have I desired an "amen" as much!..I thought I was done, but the real test just begun!
My husband looks at me and asks me ," so how much did God tell you?"....I look down and whisper under my breath , "$50?".....
"NOOO"- Zach replys and continues ," God told me how much and He told me what He told you too...so how much?"....sigh...."does He tell you EVERYTHING?....$100, that's what He told me"....
Zach said ,"that's what we're going to pledge, honey"..... OK....
I came home and had a conversation with GOD, telling Him , "I know we both heard from You $100....and frankly it does scare me a lot, but this I know- You will not fail me....so, LORD, I am willing to go on that adventure with YOU, increase my faith, help my unbelief. You have created seas and trees, You can do anything, so why am I fussing over it, that's just silly....let's do it! Actually, YOU DO it and I'll just stand and watch the glory of the LORD"......I felt Him smile over me.....
Since that few things happened :
-within 2 days I got blessed with $145- just because. People were giving me money, because they felt to.
-I got blessed with the tickets to visit my best friend Carole
-my TV broke and the very next day a friend of mine had an extra one and she wanted to give it to us.
-I got a computer for free
-the tires on my car were still under warantee (sp?), so I got it done for free
-my electricity bill was unusually small
-I did pay my very first faith promise in full!!!!
-I started Christmas shopping and I actually have some money left!
.....Just think about it....some stupid $100 fuss was actually a key to unlock a bigger blessing.....
What is GOD asking you today? What do you have to loose? (other than an OK stuff exchanged for BETTER!)..
Let's believe GOD even when He makes no sense!
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