Living in Grace

Poverty

2008-07-20T19:18:00.000-07:00

What an all encompassing word! Whether it is spiritual or economical, it speaks volumes. Whether it's by choice or no, its affects can be devasting. In a world where impoverished people dwell, what are we doing to show them they can live differently? I can't change people's hearts and I can't change their circumstances, but God can :)

Speaking of...

2008-07-20T19:16:00.000-07:00

Speaking of Grace, these video presentations about the grace of God are really super! http://www.lightsource.com/Ministry/turning_point/20080629/

Garden Productivity?

2008-07-10T16:31:00.000-07:00

How cool!

2008-05-16T18:31:00.000-07:00

If you ever wondered if God is still at work, He is. Of course, I am stating the obvious. It is amazing to see how God draws people to Himself. He longs for people to know Him. He has given us (Christians) the responsibility of telling them the glorious "Good News."
I have yet to finish reading the following article so I by no means know whether or not it is biblical through and through, but I do know that it definitely provides some "food for thought."
http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/bridgbld.html (Building Bridges for the Gospel-John A. Studebaker)

How does your garden grow?

2008-05-12T17:53:00.001-07:00

Front Row (left to right): Green Beans, Radishes, Garlic,
Onions, Broccoli, Lettuce
Back Row (left to right): Squash, Zucchini, Cucumber, Carrots

Heart Change

2008-05-09T19:06:00.000-07:00

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20

Joshua 1:8 "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;Praise Him in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who over all things so wondrously reigneth,Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!Hast thou not seen how thy desires ever have beenGranted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who hath fearfully, wondrously, made thee;Health hath vouchsafed and, when heedlessly falling, hath stayed thee.What need or grief ever hath failed of relief?Wings of His mercy did shade thee.

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,If with His love He befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord, who, when tempests their warfare are waging,Who, when the elements madly around thee are raging,Biddeth them cease, turneth their fury to peace,Whirlwinds and waters assuaging.

Praise to the Lord, who, when darkness of sin is abounding,Who, when the godless do triumph, all virtue confounding,Sheddeth His light, chaseth the horrors of night,Saints with His mercy surrounding.

Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him.Let the Amen sound from His people again,Gladly for aye we adore Him. -Joachim Neander

God

2008-04-28T19:04:00.000-07:00

God, You never change. You have stayed the same through out the course of time.
The God who demands holiness is the same God who has given us mercy and grace through His Son Jesus Christ. My human mind cannot comprehend it all. There is not anything that happens that God does not know about. And yet another marvel, that He would know every intricate detail about me and still love me. How can this be?
Imagine a creation that you have made with your own hands. Do you not cherish it? You created it. It is a reflection of you. You created it for a specific purpose. It is no less the same with God. We are His creation, created in His image for His honor and glory. We are to be a reflection of Him. MMMMM? This is definitely something to ponder, created to be a reflection of God's glory. Wow! "Were it not for grace..." Praise the Lord for His goodness, mercy, and power. Galatians 2:20

Waiting...

2008-04-26T13:53:00.000-07:00

Whether you are a dog waiting for your owner to return or a human waiting at the stop light, waiting can be tough. But it can be a good thing as well. The Lord can teach us many things while we wait. That is exactly where I am. I am in a state of waiting. Waiting on a husband, waiting for the Lord to show me direction, waiting, waiting, waiting... Is it easy? No way, but it has been said that "good things come to those who wait." Isaiah 40:31 "But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." I want to wait on the Lord, I think it is the best thing that I can do; but I get so impatient and try to work things out myself :( God is so faithful, and even if things do not work out as I think they should His plan is better than any plan that I could ever imagine.

Jeremiah 29:11For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Alarming

2008-04-26T13:33:00.001-07:00

I had just finished speaking to the cat when the alarm went off. Boy was I suprised needless to say I scurried out of the house and tried to lock it back but to no avail. The first thought that came to mind was to hurry out of there, but then that didn't seem like a good idea. So I casually stayed on the porch instead (Thank the Lord for wisdom and discernment). Was my heart beating fast? You better believe it. I was trying to figure out what I was going to tell the police once they arrived. The alarm was sooooo loud it just kept going and going. Some neighbors were looking, but no one went into action mode (thankfully). Finally it stopped, schwoo; but the lights on the porch continued to flash. I finally got the door to lock back and since the alarm stopped and the police never came, I decided to go home.
So what in the world happened? Melissa, Jeff and Jennine's daughter in law, had left a message that she would like for them to go to her house and shut the windows, since it was supposed to storm, and she also wanted them to give water to the cat. Well, since Jeff and Jennine weren't at home I thought I would be helpful and go do it for them. I didn't realize that Jason & Melissa's home had an alarm system. Oh, but I do now.
I was able to get in touch with Melissa and every thing was all good. It was quite an alarming experience. Needless to say the windows didn't get shut and the cat didn't get any more water.

A little treasure

2008-04-07T18:57:00.000-07:00

A little treasure nestled in the mountains of Roan Mountain Tennessee,

Chalet RetreatMinistries. What a nice place to get away! :)

What a beautiful place!

A Dog's Life

2008-04-07T18:27:00.000-07:00

Ewwww, Dog germs!

Grin and bare it,

I know the human

species is hard to deal with.

Jerah with her friends.

Dad and Daughters

2008-04-02T17:56:00.000-07:00

Just a few years ago...

My how things change!

What we need

2008-03-29T05:51:00.000-07:00

The following story is from the March 29 entry of Streams in the Desert.

Matthew 6:28 "Consider the lilies, how they grow."

"I need oil," said an ancient monk; so he planted an olive sapling. "Lord," he prayed, "it needs rain that its tender roots may drink and swell. Send gentle showers." And the Lord sent gentle showers. "Lord," prayed the monk, "my tree needs sun. Send sun, I pray Thee." And the sun shone, gilding the dripping clouds. "Now frost, my Lord, to brace its tissues," cried the monk. And behold, the little tree stood sparkling with frost, but at evening it died.

Then the monk sought the cell of a brother monk, and told his strange experience. "I, too, planted a little tree," he said, "and see! it thrives well. But I entrust my tree to its God, He who made it knows better what it needs than a man like me. I laid no condition. I fixed not ways or means. 'Lord, send what it needs.' I prayed, 'storm or sunshine, wind, rain, or frost. Thou hast made it and Thou dost know.'"

Yes, leave it with Him,

The lilies all do,

And they grow--

They grow in the rain,

And they grow in the dew--

Yes, they grow:

They grow in the darkness, all hid in the night--

They grow in the sunshine, revealed by the light--

Still they grow.

Yes, leave it with Him,

'Tis more dear to His heart,

You will know,

Than the lilies that bloom,

Or the flowers that start

'Neath the snow:

Whatever you need, if you seek it in prayer,

You can leave it with Him--for you are His care.

You, you know. --Selected

Amazing Grace

2008-03-14T17:57:00.000-07:00

If you haven't seen the movie Amazing Grace, I highly recommend that you do so. It was a very inspirational. While I am here, I thought I would share a poem that is very poignant:

"Thou knowest that through our tears
Of hasty, selfish weeping
Comes surer sin, and for our petty fears
Of loss thou hast in keeping
A greater gain than all of which we dreamed;
Thou knowest that in grasping
The bright possessions which so precious seemed
We lose them; but if, clasping
Thy faithful hand, we tread with steadfast feet
The path of thy appointing,
There waits for us a treasury of sweet
Delight, royal annointing
With oil of gladness and of strength."-Helen Hunt Jackson

Trip to Wilmington

2008-03-09T17:47:00.000-07:00

Dad, Mom & myself took a little weekend trip to Wilmington. We had a good time and we were able to see a lot of neat things. It was tremendously windy.

Blessed

2008-02-23T15:34:00.000-08:00

I have so much to be thankful for. The Lord has blessed me tremendously. I am so blessed to have family and friends who love me. I have a warm place to stay and I have everything I need and I even have things that I want. There are so many hurting people in this world. Who really cares about them? Jesus.

Matthew 5:14-16

Steven Curtis Chapman

"Do They Know"

"I'm one of the chosen few God chose to carry to a hopeless and dying world Good News. I'm a disciple of a caring Father's love a light to the world to show them the way.

Chorus: Do they know? Can they see Jesus lives in me? Do they know? Can they see Jesus lives in me?

A vacant house comes alive when somebody moves inside. A light in the window means somebody's home. I say Jesus lives in me but can everybody see the light of His love that shines in my heart?

Chorus: Do they know? Can they see Jesus lives in me? Do they know? Can they see Jesus lives in me?

A cloud of witnessess surrounds us who long to share what we've received tell me where will they see Jesus if not in you and me?

So we must let them know. Let them see Jesus lives in you and me. Let them know let them see He is all they need. Jesus is all we need."

Unexpected Snowfall

2008-02-20T19:05:00.000-08:00

The morning after the night snowfall at PBC.

Take time to note the lovely pictures of the snow that we had recently in Winston-Salem. It was quite the unexpected suprise. Jeff & Jennine's home.

America

2008-02-15T19:46:00.001-08:00

I was reminded tonight via a movie of how ungrateful I am. We have so much for which to be thankful. We live in America where we can have anything that we "need" not to mention anything that we want from computers to washers and dryers. I take so many things for grated. I have also been reminded of how much I see the Bible through the lens of an American. God is not limited to the American mindset. He doesn't work in an American way. He works in His own way. We don't live in a country of civil unrest, but we do live in a country of tolerance. Edmund Burke said, ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph [of evil] is for good men to do nothing.’

The Story

2008-02-07T15:28:00.000-08:00

I was asked to share how I know the people from my previous blog entry. Thank you Leah for encouraging me to tell this story. I am uncertain of the exact time table as to how the events came to pass but it goes something like this: Towards the end of my college graduation of 2006 or after, I was presented with the idea of going to teach for a couple of months at Santiago Christian Academy in Chile. I thought about it and thought "how could I pass up this opportunity?" After student teaching and graduation from PBC, I had returned to the Federal Building where I used to work and at the time I wondered why the Lord was leading me back there and as the story progresses you will see why as well.

The decision was pretty much made up in my mind, I just needed to talk it over with both sets of parents and I did. Needless to say mom and dad were surprised. So here I was on my way to Chile. Here is where the Federal Building comes in to play. A couple of people that I worked with very graciously and kindly fixed a box so that other employees could give money to help fund my trip. I received money from believers and unbelievers alike. I was in total amazement. They helped to pay for a good portion of my trip. I then understood why the Lord led me back there. Not only did they help me out but Altamahaw Baptist, Salem Baptist, and family and friends helped support me as well. Sitting here writing all of this brings me to tears as I realize what God did.

On July 17th, I departed for Santiago, Chile and arrived on the 18th of July. I stayed with the Pattens for a couple weeks. They are missionaries to the deaf there in Santiago and Mrs. Patten is the one who told me about the opportunity. They were very kind to open up their home. There were many things to be done before I could begin teaching-cleaning, learning, and basic classroom preparation. (Elementary Building Below and my classroom on the right).

On 7/23/2006, I went to Iglesia Bautista Vida Nueva for the first time, and I am sure this is where I first met the Chileans who befriended me. I was able to meet the deaf and was able to interact with them in the deaf ministry. They were so kind to me and the workers were as well. Along the way I was befriended by the Chileans but especially by Flor Maria(one of the deaf,los sordos) , Mauricio(pastor of the deaf), and Andrea(lay worker who works with the deaf of the church). So this is how I came to know Andrea.

Mrs. & Mr. Patten and Flor Maria on the left. The Patten's & Mauricio Rojas & Lori Brock on the right.

Annette, Mauricio, & the deaf sing

August 2, 2006 began the first day of class. What an adventure! I definitely did not feel adequate to teach, but the Lord used that experience in my life to show me His power and the power of prayer. I know the prayers of family and friends are what gave me the strength. There were some days where I said Lord I can't do this and He of course helped me. He is so faithful! I had a combination class of first and second graders and it was a multicultural combination as well. There were Chileans, Koreans, Americans, etc... What an experience! I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!

Now how in the world did I meet Americans all the way in Chile. Well, Miss Ruth from High Point, NC came to teach in the kindergarten. She was already there when I arrived. She is a very sweet lady. Lori Brock, from Indiana, has been at the school for a few years. James and his friend Jared from Pennsylvania arrived about 2 weeks into the school year. They had been working at a camp and were not able to come at the beginning of the school year. They came to teach in the high school. There was also another girl, Leah Bayne from Mississippi, who had arrived at about the same time I did to teach in the high school as well. So here we were a group of Americans who came to teach in a School in Santiago, Chile. Leah, Lisa, & Miss Ruth on the right

We did things together as a group. Once Andrea and myself became friends, she became a part of our group as well. Towards the end of my time there in Chile, James and Andrea began talking a lot with one another and thus the forming of a relationship had begun.

Andrea, James, Lisa, Jared, Leah

It was so hard to leave, but as you can see God so graciously allowed the paths of Andrea, James, Miss Ruth, and myself to cross once again. What an awesome, magnificent, all-powerful God we serve. And some day, I hope to go back to see my kids.

Dieciocho Celebration

September 18, 2006

(Equivalent to our 4th of July)

Back Row: Natasha, Valeria, Lisa, Hannah, Yu-June (2nd Grade)

Front Row: Jordan, Su, Abby, Pablo, Andrew (not pictured) (1st Grade)

Amazed

2008-02-05T06:53:00.000-08:00

I am amazed at how God works so intricately in people's lives to draw them to Himself. He uses various means and people to accomplish His purposes. It is no accident when a particular person crosses our path today.

The Odds

2008-02-04T15:10:00.001-08:00

What are the odds? Since God controls things the odds are pretty good. I never would have thought that I would have seen Andrea or James again in my lifetime, but in God's providence He allowed our paths to cross once again. Only this time we were in the United States, and we were able to spend time with my family and our friends.

Jerah, Jennine, Jeff, Lisa, Andrea, James

James, Andrea, Miss Ruth, Lisa

Aunt Eleanor, James, Mom, Dad
Andrea, Lisa

"Absolute Surrender"

2008-02-03T03:49:00.000-08:00

Here are a few insights after reading some of Andrew Murray's book, "Absolute Surrender." It's ok to come to God with a weak, frail, and sinful heart. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He only asks that we come. Come and surrender all that we are or all that we are not. Our inability to live the Christian life can be quite daunting, but nonetheless it is true. A life lived in the flesh is one of misery, but a life lived in the power of the Spirit is one of peace, joy, and contentment. The unfathomable riches of God's grace that He would pursue us despite who we are, that He would long to have a close personal relationship with us. Will life be perfect, will we be perfect? No, but we can depend and trust The ONE who is perfect and who knows the path that is before us. What an awesome concept that if we come confessing our weaknesses, failures, and our inability to do anything good, that God has forgiven us and that He will give us the power through the Holy Spirit to live the Christian life.

Upwards Basketball

2008-01-26T14:53:00.000-08:00

My nephews Dillon and Collin playing basketball.

Family Time

2008-01-26T14:44:00.000-08:00

Dad, Mom, and I were able to spend some quality time with Chris, Tammy, Dillon & Collin in Charleston, SC on this particular weekend. We enjoyed being down there.

Thankful for the Faithful

2008-01-23T19:34:00.000-08:00

I would like to thank all of my family and friends for the love, prayers, and support that they have shown to me, but most of all I would like to thank the LORD for being so Faithful.

"I find no hope within to call my own for I am frail of heart, my strength is gone but deep within my soul is rising up a song here in the comfort of the FAITHFUL ONE. I walk a narrow road through valleys deep in search of higher ground on mountains steep; and though with feet unsure I still keep pressing on for I am guided by the FAITHFUL ONE.
Faithful, Faithful to the end. My true and precious Friend You have been faithful, faithful, so faithful to me.
I see Your wounded hands. I touch Your side with thorns upon Your brow You bled and died; but there's an empty tomb a love for all who come and give their hearts to You the FAITHFUL ONE.
Faithful, Faithful to the end. My true and precious Friend You have been faithful, faithful, so faithful to me.
And when the day is done and when the race is won, I will bow down before God's only Son. I will lift my hands in praise for all You've done, and I will worhsip You my FAITHFUL ONE." Christy Nockels

HUDSON TAYLOR'S CONFESSION

2008-01-12T08:56:00.000-08:00

"I prayed, fasted, agonised, strove, made resolutions, read the Bible more diligently, sought more time for retirement and meditation-but all without effect. Every day- almost every hour-the consciousness of sin oppressed me. Then came the question: 'Is there no rescue? Must it be this to the end-constant conflict, and instead of Victory, too often defeat?' I hated myself, I hated my sin, and yet I gained no strength against it. I felt I was a child of God, but how to
rise to my privileges as a child I was utterly powerless to see. I thought that holiness, practical holiness, was to be gradually attained by a diligent use of the means of grace. I felt there was nothing I so much desired in the world, nothing I so much needed. When my agony of soul was at its height, a sentence in a latter was used to remove the scales from my eyes, and the Spirit of God revealed the truth of our oneness with Jesus."

What was this letter? What was the sentence? The letter runs: "By faith a channel is formed by which Christ's fullness plenteously flows down. The barren branch becomes a portion of the fruitful stem. He is most holy who has most of Christ within. It is defective faith, which clogs the feet and causes many a fall. Abiding-not struggling or striving: looking off to Him; trusting Him for present power; trusting Him to subdue all inward corruption; resting in the conscious joy of a complete salvation; a salvation from all sin: willing that He should be truly supreme. That is
NOT NEW, YET IT IS NEW TO ME. I seem to have got to the edge only, but to the edge of a sea that is boundless.

Christ literally ALL seems to me now the power-the only power-for service; the only ground for unchanging joy. Now, then, is this faith increased? Only by thinking of all that JESUS is and all that He is for us: His life, His death, His work, HIMSELF, as revealed to us in His Word, to be the subject of our constant thoughts. Not a striving to have faith, or to increase our faith, but a looking off to the FAITHFUL ONE seems all we need-a resting in the Loved One entirely for time and eternity. IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO ME ANYTHING NEW-only formerly
misapprehended."

Remember

2008-01-09T15:25:00.000-08:00

God loves us regardless of ourselves. We just need to come to Him and recognize our helplessness.

Matthew 11:27-29
27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Praise

2008-01-06T16:31:00.000-08:00

Due to the fact that I failed to be obedient and share my praise at church, I am posting it on the blog. I would like to praise God that at the sound of Jesus' name there is peace and comfort. I also praise Him for His stability-He truly is my Rock and my Redeemer.

My Winston Family

2008-01-04T15:07:00.000-08:00

Meet the Failings: Jennine, Jennifer, & Jeff Christmas tree hunting is an adventure with the Failings-you should try it sometime.

Oops! I forgot about Jerah she is part of the family as well. I will have to download her pic at another time-sorry Jennine.

Reflections

2008-01-04T04:26:00.000-08:00

Jesus Christ came to this earth to be a reflection of His Father. The heart of God is displayed in His Son Jesus Christ, holy and righteous and yet full of compassion and mercy. God took the time to reach out to sinful humanity. He cared enough to stoop down to our level-He chose to experience life as we experience life. The heart of compassion seeks out another’s cares- hurts with those who hurt, cries with those who cry, and laughs with those who laugh.

Jesus was not about making Himself known but His mission was to reflect His Father and to do the will of His Father. Words cannot adequately describe what God had to sacrifice in order for our lives to be touched by Him. Emmanuel, God with us. God, help me in this day to be a reflection of you not seeking my own but seeking the things of others.

The Victorious Christian Life

2007-12-29T05:38:00.000-08:00

Isn't this something for which we all long? I'm sure there are many Christians who struggle with one or more sins, and I am no exception to the rule. I have been reading "Victorious Christian Life" by an unknown author. God has used this book in my life to show me various things. The book reminds me of the lyrics "not in trying but in trusting...not in ...but in resting that we find the strength of the Lord." In summary, we do not have to live the Christian life it is Christ in us who lives the Christian life through us. Surrender, yielding ourselves totally to God and His control-this is what it is all about. We must recognize our own helplessness and ask Him to take over. Yes, we know these truths, but how often do we put them into practice? Galatians 1-3

Christmas

2007-12-28T18:56:00.000-08:00

2007-12-28T18:39:00.000-08:00

2007-12-28T18:36:00.000-08:00

2007-12-28T18:30:00.000-08:00