- When involved in public speaking, I need to approach the task with particular attention and prayer because it is teachers who will be judged most severely. I need to make sure that I am pointing people to Christ.
- Any ritual, even rituals that God ordained, is void of meaning and power if God is not in it. The rituals are merely symbols and are nothing on their own. When I start to rely on the ritual and not on God to whom the ritual points and of whom the rituals speak, I will be running towards failure.
- Hardships will reveal whether God is really in me and whether I rely on God alone.
- Integrity means “the same all the way through.” As Proverbs 28:23 says, I need to be truthful in all I do and say – loving, but truthful.
- When I serve people, ultimately, they will let me down, but when I serve God, He will always be faithful.
- My “letters of recommendation” are the fruit that is bourn in my life. Because human nature can never be changed, if there is any real change in people’s lives, it must be of God. So for Paul, the Corinthians were his letter because their lives had been genuinely changed showing that it was not Paul’s doing, but God’s doing through Paul.
- When God changes us, it is not to make us better, shinier people because that would then remove our need of Him. Instead, it is to make us reflect His perfect glory more and more (2Cor 3:18).
- If I (or the church) opts to ‘sell’ Christianity on the basis of its benefits, people will accept Jesus solely on the basis of what He can do for them (instead of what they can do for God) and as soon as the benefits are gone, they will want their money back. I need to tell others the whole truth about the gospel. And if the message of the gospel is veiled for them, that is too bad, I cannot change it!
- If I understand something after class, it is not by explanation but by revelation. Therefore, when something new and fresh is revealed to me, I need to thank God right then and there because He did it! And do I ever have a lot to be thankful for!!!
- I need to check myself under pressure. In normal circumstances, both the wise man’s house and the foolish man’s house appear identical. But under pressure, only the house built on the sand crumbles. It is pressure that reveals what is truly inside me. It is not my problems that are the problem, but the way I experience the problems.
- It is when we are faced with trials that we discover if our Christianity is language or life. The natural reaction to circumstances that seem bigger and stronger than me is fear, but I need allow God to work in me and teach me in the situation.
- Although I am in the world, I am not of it. So I need to be careful not to be unequally yoked because this could lead to compromise.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Week 15
So, what to blog about this week? Life at the Crossing has gotten back into the routines we became so familiar with last semester. Classes have been awesome. We had Warren Duncan teaching on public speaking for the first half of the week and Werner was teaching on 2 Corinthians. We also got to have a DVD lecture on 1 and 2 Samuel by Charles Price.
For the most part, this week has been spent getting ahead on Bible studies and reading.
Both Thursday and Friday night were rather insane for me because I stayed up until 1am! On Thursday, it was simply because I couldn’t’ fall asleep so I stayed up and chatted and laughed and then sat up writing poetry. On Friday, it was because I stayed up to watch a movie with everyone else. And was it ever worth it!!! It’s called ‘The Prestige’ and it’s about these two magicians competing for the best trick or performance. Most of the story had me quite confused, but the end is insane!!! I really hope to watch it again soon to try and understand it a bit more. As Colin described it, you come out of this movie thinking “What just happened?” and so we spent an hour or so after the movie discussing it and going “Wooooooooooo!! Way cool!!!!!!!!!!”
Saturday was a ‘lazy day’ where we all kind of sat around and worked on getting some assigned reading done or got started working on our next Bible studies. Cara, Kelsey, and Bryan headed off to the North Island at 3am on Saturday to attend Parachute (a huge music festival) and Sheryl and Michael headed down to Christchurch for Sheryl’s sister’s engagement party so the house has been rather quiet this weekend.
Saturday night, after a hilarious game of volleyball (I most definitely need to practice...) a bunch of us had a campfire down by the pond. We had s’mores with real graham crackers and real marshmallows which I had brought from Canada. We were all pretty excited about that! Then Jordan got a can of gasoline and the guys decided to have some fun. They made ‘marshmallow bombs’ by dipping the marshmallows in the gasoline and they threw small amounts of gasoline on the fire. The first time he did it, Joel fell off his stump because the brightness and heat surprised him so much. After a suggestion from Robert, we got an empty spray bottle from the cleaning cupboard and filled it with gasoline (yes, we had Hanna’s permission and supervision). We would then spray the fire to create a fireball. Then we could spray the fireball repeatedly and essentially keep spraying it or right above it so that we could we bring it upwards. It was so cool!! But when you were the one spraying, it got pretty high and we had some close calls (a stump and some grass on fire). When it started raining, we all came in a J.B., Cam, Amber, Robert and I had a ‘spontaneous’ worship service. It was really refreshing (although it meant that I had another late night)
Sunday after church, Mr and Mrs Davey invited Adam and I up to their house out in Temuka for lunch. They had two other guests there who had been staying there for the weekend so we chatted, played some games and ate a delicious meal with tons of fruit and vegetables. After the meal, they toured us around Temuka then we drove out to Pleasant Point where they bought us Den Heath’s Custard squares (which originated in Temuka but have grown so much that they are now produced in Tiamru and shipped all over New Zealand). They gave us tons of history and info about the region (I will write it up in a ‘did you know’ post at some point in the (hopefully) near future).
On Sunday evening, the girls (minus Kelsey, Cara, and Sheryl who were missing) went to Patti’s for some ‘girl talk. This time, Patti talked about women’s roles in society, what they are now and what God intended them to be. We are basing the study on Titus 2 (especially verse4 and 5). It has been really interesting and has brought up several issues that I never would have though needed to be brought up before. I must say that I may have been getting women’s roles in the church all wrong although I think I still need to do some research of my own before I come to a definite conclusion. I really enjoy our Sunday evening meetings although I always stress a little before going because I know that Patti will challenge me and that God will convict me of something.
For the most part, this week has been spent getting ahead on Bible studies and reading.
Both Thursday and Friday night were rather insane for me because I stayed up until 1am! On Thursday, it was simply because I couldn’t’ fall asleep so I stayed up and chatted and laughed and then sat up writing poetry. On Friday, it was because I stayed up to watch a movie with everyone else. And was it ever worth it!!! It’s called ‘The Prestige’ and it’s about these two magicians competing for the best trick or performance. Most of the story had me quite confused, but the end is insane!!! I really hope to watch it again soon to try and understand it a bit more. As Colin described it, you come out of this movie thinking “What just happened?” and so we spent an hour or so after the movie discussing it and going “Wooooooooooo!! Way cool!!!!!!!!!!”
Saturday was a ‘lazy day’ where we all kind of sat around and worked on getting some assigned reading done or got started working on our next Bible studies. Cara, Kelsey, and Bryan headed off to the North Island at 3am on Saturday to attend Parachute (a huge music festival) and Sheryl and Michael headed down to Christchurch for Sheryl’s sister’s engagement party so the house has been rather quiet this weekend.
Saturday night, after a hilarious game of volleyball (I most definitely need to practice...) a bunch of us had a campfire down by the pond. We had s’mores with real graham crackers and real marshmallows which I had brought from Canada. We were all pretty excited about that! Then Jordan got a can of gasoline and the guys decided to have some fun. They made ‘marshmallow bombs’ by dipping the marshmallows in the gasoline and they threw small amounts of gasoline on the fire. The first time he did it, Joel fell off his stump because the brightness and heat surprised him so much. After a suggestion from Robert, we got an empty spray bottle from the cleaning cupboard and filled it with gasoline (yes, we had Hanna’s permission and supervision). We would then spray the fire to create a fireball. Then we could spray the fireball repeatedly and essentially keep spraying it or right above it so that we could we bring it upwards. It was so cool!! But when you were the one spraying, it got pretty high and we had some close calls (a stump and some grass on fire). When it started raining, we all came in a J.B., Cam, Amber, Robert and I had a ‘spontaneous’ worship service. It was really refreshing (although it meant that I had another late night)
Sunday after church, Mr and Mrs Davey invited Adam and I up to their house out in Temuka for lunch. They had two other guests there who had been staying there for the weekend so we chatted, played some games and ate a delicious meal with tons of fruit and vegetables. After the meal, they toured us around Temuka then we drove out to Pleasant Point where they bought us Den Heath’s Custard squares (which originated in Temuka but have grown so much that they are now produced in Tiamru and shipped all over New Zealand). They gave us tons of history and info about the region (I will write it up in a ‘did you know’ post at some point in the (hopefully) near future).
On Sunday evening, the girls (minus Kelsey, Cara, and Sheryl who were missing) went to Patti’s for some ‘girl talk. This time, Patti talked about women’s roles in society, what they are now and what God intended them to be. We are basing the study on Titus 2 (especially verse4 and 5). It has been really interesting and has brought up several issues that I never would have though needed to be brought up before. I must say that I may have been getting women’s roles in the church all wrong although I think I still need to do some research of my own before I come to a definite conclusion. I really enjoy our Sunday evening meetings although I always stress a little before going because I know that Patti will challenge me and that God will convict me of something.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Others May, You Cannot
Here is an excerpt from the book we are reading together this semester (“Be Ye Transformed” by Chuck and Nancy Missler) that really got my attention. The following text, which was quoted in the book, was originally written in the 1800s by G.D. Watson who was a Wesleyan Methodist minister.
“Others May, You Cannot
If God has called you to be really like Jesus, He will draw you to a life of crucifixion and humility, and put upon you such demands of obedience that you will not be able to follow other people, or measure yourself by other Christians, and in many ways, He will seem to let those other good people do things which He will not let you do.
Other Christians and ministers who seem very religious and useful may push themselves, pull wires, and work schemes to carry out their plans, but you cannot do it; and if you attempt it, you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.
Others may boast of themselves, of their work, of their success, of their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing, and if you begin it, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.
Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, or may have a legacy left to them, but it is likely God will keep you poor, because He wants you to have something far better than gold, namely, a helpless dependence on Him, that He may have the privilege of supplying your needs day by day out of an unseen treasury.
The Lord may let others be honoured and put forward, and keep you hidden in obscurity, because He wants you to produce some choice, fragrant fruit for His glory, which can only be produced in the shade. He may let others do a work for Him and get credit for it, but He will make you work and toil on without knowing how much you are doing, and then make your work still more precious, He may let others get the credit for the work which you have done, and thus make your reward ten times greater when Jesus comes.
The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you, with a jealous love, and will rebuke you for little words and feelings or for wasting your time, which other Christians never seem distressed over. So make up your mind that God is an infinite sovereign and has a right to do as He pleases with His own.
He may not explain to you a thousand things which puzzle your reason in His dealings with you. But if you absolutely sell yourself to be His...slave, He will wrap you up in a jealous love, and bestow upon you many blessings which come only to those who are in the inner circle.
Settle it forever, then, that you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit and that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or chaining your hand, or closing your eyes, in ways that He does not seem to use with others. Now when you are so possessed with the living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, you will have found the vestibule [entrance] to heaven.”
“Others May, You Cannot
If God has called you to be really like Jesus, He will draw you to a life of crucifixion and humility, and put upon you such demands of obedience that you will not be able to follow other people, or measure yourself by other Christians, and in many ways, He will seem to let those other good people do things which He will not let you do.
Other Christians and ministers who seem very religious and useful may push themselves, pull wires, and work schemes to carry out their plans, but you cannot do it; and if you attempt it, you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.
Others may boast of themselves, of their work, of their success, of their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing, and if you begin it, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.
Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, or may have a legacy left to them, but it is likely God will keep you poor, because He wants you to have something far better than gold, namely, a helpless dependence on Him, that He may have the privilege of supplying your needs day by day out of an unseen treasury.
The Lord may let others be honoured and put forward, and keep you hidden in obscurity, because He wants you to produce some choice, fragrant fruit for His glory, which can only be produced in the shade. He may let others do a work for Him and get credit for it, but He will make you work and toil on without knowing how much you are doing, and then make your work still more precious, He may let others get the credit for the work which you have done, and thus make your reward ten times greater when Jesus comes.
The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you, with a jealous love, and will rebuke you for little words and feelings or for wasting your time, which other Christians never seem distressed over. So make up your mind that God is an infinite sovereign and has a right to do as He pleases with His own.
He may not explain to you a thousand things which puzzle your reason in His dealings with you. But if you absolutely sell yourself to be His...slave, He will wrap you up in a jealous love, and bestow upon you many blessings which come only to those who are in the inner circle.
Settle it forever, then, that you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit and that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or chaining your hand, or closing your eyes, in ways that He does not seem to use with others. Now when you are so possessed with the living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, you will have found the vestibule [entrance] to heaven.”
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Bible verse of the week
Just in case you hadn't noticed, I have been putting up a new Bible verse every week in the left hand margin. The older ones have been moved down to the bottom of the page. I hope to keep them updated with verses that speak to me each week. Enjoy!
Week 14
It has been so good to see everyone again! We have been swapping stories, laughing, talking, hanging out, and generally having a great time! Getting to know Joel B. Has been tons of fun and he seems to be fitting in just fine!
This week, Dale taught on the book of Joshua and we started a DVD series by Russell Kelfer (the same guy who taught on Joseph last semester) on “What God’s Word says about God’s Word.” I have posted my journal entry, but here is what I have learned in a nutshell:
This week, there are two main points that have stuck out for me. The first is patience. A verse that really spoke to me this week was Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.” Last semester, several things started to make sense for me as God revealed Himself to me and softened my heart. This week, He has been reminding me that walking with Him will take time and patience. He cannot change me overnight, but He is ready to start the slow process of moulding me into who He wants me to be if I am willing to come to Him His way. This means putting Him first and seeking Him only. It means setting time aside to be still in His presence so that He can teach me to discern His beautiful, quiet voice. The second point that has stood out for me this week is the foolishness of sin. The illustration that comes to mind is sin as chocolate covered dog food. It may seem appealing at first, but to consume it would just be dumb. But it is more than just dumb, it is dangerous. Because all sin - whether intentional or unintentional - has consequences. And the consequences may not affect only me, but people around me as well. And any sin compromises my holiness. God has set me apart for Himself (has made me holy) and when I sin, I am putting myself before God and therefore am guilty not only of the sin, but of idolatry, which God equates with adultery!
On Tuesday for family night, we all stayed at the crossing and played volleyball and ‘four on a couch’ and had ice-cream floats. It was fun (although I do think I need to work on my volleyball skills a bit more)
On Saturday, we finally got to go white water rafting at Rangitata Rafts! We were supposed to go towards the end of last semester, but the water level was too high. We had tons of fun despite the cloudy sky! I had no idea what I was getting into and so was slightly apprehensive at the beginning, but with the enthusiasm of the other Capers and the careful instruction of our guide, I very quickly became comfortable. At the end of each set of rapids, we would lift our paddles in a ‘high-five’ and yell “Ou-Ah-Ou!!!” We started out with some grade 1 rapids, which means the water is basically flat with a few waves (but no white peaks) and gradually worked our way up to a few grade 5 rapids. These had waves that basically swallowed up our tiny raft. We just had to dig into the wave with our paddles and pull ourselves through. But we had to make sure that our paddles were actually in the water because with the waves, you may think that you’re going to dig into the water but then you put your paddle down and all of a sudden, there is no water there! To keep ourselves in the boat, we had to ram one foot under the seat in front of us and one foot sideways in the seat behind us. Then we had to brace hard! I almost fell out once! But thankfully, no one fell out (from our raft at least :P). There was even one section where we were allowed to stand up in the boat while we went over one of the rapids! That was pretty cool except that I couldn’t keep my balance and only managed to stand up once we were through the big wave :P. I think the coolest part though was that at one point, we got to jump into the water (which was rather cold!) and float down the river for a section. I got sucked into a whirl pool and had to climb on shore and walk around so that I could get out, but it was really cool to go down the grade 1 set of rapids like that because you could really feel the movement of the water and how it was pulling. The last thing we did was cliff jumping. First, we jumped off a four meter cliff (as a qualifying jump) and then off an eleven meter cliff. It really didn’t seem that high from the bottom! I was soooooo scared to jump!!!!! But I finally did and it was tons of fun!!! Our guide (Muz) was really nice. I think was made this rafting experience unique was that it was a whole day thing. They served us an early lunch before heading out and a barbecue supper at the end (after a nice warm shower!). So we really got to know our guides and have tons of fun with them!
For the Bible study that is due next week, half the group gets to choose what passage they want to do it on, so I chose Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” It’s been a really good reminder for me to just shut up and listen to God. I have been ‘bombarding’ him with worries and questions, and now He has been teaching me just to be still, to stop talking, and to listen.
This week, Dale taught on the book of Joshua and we started a DVD series by Russell Kelfer (the same guy who taught on Joseph last semester) on “What God’s Word says about God’s Word.” I have posted my journal entry, but here is what I have learned in a nutshell:
This week, there are two main points that have stuck out for me. The first is patience. A verse that really spoke to me this week was Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.” Last semester, several things started to make sense for me as God revealed Himself to me and softened my heart. This week, He has been reminding me that walking with Him will take time and patience. He cannot change me overnight, but He is ready to start the slow process of moulding me into who He wants me to be if I am willing to come to Him His way. This means putting Him first and seeking Him only. It means setting time aside to be still in His presence so that He can teach me to discern His beautiful, quiet voice. The second point that has stood out for me this week is the foolishness of sin. The illustration that comes to mind is sin as chocolate covered dog food. It may seem appealing at first, but to consume it would just be dumb. But it is more than just dumb, it is dangerous. Because all sin - whether intentional or unintentional - has consequences. And the consequences may not affect only me, but people around me as well. And any sin compromises my holiness. God has set me apart for Himself (has made me holy) and when I sin, I am putting myself before God and therefore am guilty not only of the sin, but of idolatry, which God equates with adultery!
On Tuesday for family night, we all stayed at the crossing and played volleyball and ‘four on a couch’ and had ice-cream floats. It was fun (although I do think I need to work on my volleyball skills a bit more)
On Saturday, we finally got to go white water rafting at Rangitata Rafts! We were supposed to go towards the end of last semester, but the water level was too high. We had tons of fun despite the cloudy sky! I had no idea what I was getting into and so was slightly apprehensive at the beginning, but with the enthusiasm of the other Capers and the careful instruction of our guide, I very quickly became comfortable. At the end of each set of rapids, we would lift our paddles in a ‘high-five’ and yell “Ou-Ah-Ou!!!” We started out with some grade 1 rapids, which means the water is basically flat with a few waves (but no white peaks) and gradually worked our way up to a few grade 5 rapids. These had waves that basically swallowed up our tiny raft. We just had to dig into the wave with our paddles and pull ourselves through. But we had to make sure that our paddles were actually in the water because with the waves, you may think that you’re going to dig into the water but then you put your paddle down and all of a sudden, there is no water there! To keep ourselves in the boat, we had to ram one foot under the seat in front of us and one foot sideways in the seat behind us. Then we had to brace hard! I almost fell out once! But thankfully, no one fell out (from our raft at least :P). There was even one section where we were allowed to stand up in the boat while we went over one of the rapids! That was pretty cool except that I couldn’t keep my balance and only managed to stand up once we were through the big wave :P. I think the coolest part though was that at one point, we got to jump into the water (which was rather cold!) and float down the river for a section. I got sucked into a whirl pool and had to climb on shore and walk around so that I could get out, but it was really cool to go down the grade 1 set of rapids like that because you could really feel the movement of the water and how it was pulling. The last thing we did was cliff jumping. First, we jumped off a four meter cliff (as a qualifying jump) and then off an eleven meter cliff. It really didn’t seem that high from the bottom! I was soooooo scared to jump!!!!! But I finally did and it was tons of fun!!! Our guide (Muz) was really nice. I think was made this rafting experience unique was that it was a whole day thing. They served us an early lunch before heading out and a barbecue supper at the end (after a nice warm shower!). So we really got to know our guides and have tons of fun with them!
For the Bible study that is due next week, half the group gets to choose what passage they want to do it on, so I chose Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” It’s been a really good reminder for me to just shut up and listen to God. I have been ‘bombarding’ him with worries and questions, and now He has been teaching me just to be still, to stop talking, and to listen.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Journal for week 14
- The book of Joshua is not about Joshua. In fact, it is about the same thing as everything else: God.
- I need to go where God tells me. I can’t just sit around waiting for God to do something, I need to get up and start walking. As the American Bible Society says, “I prayed for years but nothing happened until I started praying with my feet.” God calls me to be strong and courageous to do what He calls me to do, but this strength does not come from my ability. Rather it comes from Christ’s presence in me.
- I need to remember what God has done for me in my life. This way I will be reminded of God’s faithfulness and will be encouraged to continue to trust Him.
- God’s instructions to the Israelites for the ‘battle’ of Jericho may have seemed outrageous, but God was teaching them to wait for His instruction. In the same way, I need to be patient before the Lord and wait for His instruction. He has a plan for my life, and although I may not be able to see it, I need to be patient and wait for His instruction because His timing is best!
- God is passionate about holiness. I need to ask myself if my relationship with Him is as exclusive as that between a husband and a wife. In my life, there are still things that I place before God so I need to put God as my first priority and as my first love. Idolatry is like adultery to God and so I need to ask Him to show me any areas in my life that I am putting before Him. Only then, once I am truly passionate about God and His Word, can He really begin to show me wondrous things.
- Achan’s ‘little sin’ caused the death of not only his family and his livestock but also the lives of 36 soldiers. This put into perspective the stupidity of sin. Not only is it harmful to me, but it can have devastating effects on people around me. I need to ask God to reveal my hidden sins and to continue to change me. Whether it is by accident or on purpose, sin has consequences. It is only by running to Jesus and taking refuge in Him that I will be saved and it is only by His death and resurrection that I can have new life.
- Although God had already given the Israelites the land, it took five years of war before all the organized resistance was overcome. In the same way, my relationship with God will take time. I need to daily, constantly, devote time to Him and ask Him to teach me. It is only with time and commitment and faithfulness that I will begin to learn. Even though it may seem as though I am in an interminable battle, I can rest in the assurance that I don’t know the end of the story, but God does! There will always be small pockets of resistance in m life, but if I give the battle to God, He will fight and be victorious.
- When I come to the word of God, whether it is for my quiet time, during a sermon, or while listening to a podcast, I need to come with a sense of awe that the God of the universe is speaking to me (I need to ask God to create this sense of awe in me). I then need to ask God to show me wondrous things and to teach me. Every time I come to His word, He wants to reveal Himself to me, but I need to ask Him to make me open to His teaching. Then He will make His word come alive for me. But I need to be patient and keep asking as He teaches me to hear His voice and understand His teaching.
- I need to go where God tells me. I can’t just sit around waiting for God to do something, I need to get up and start walking. As the American Bible Society says, “I prayed for years but nothing happened until I started praying with my feet.” God calls me to be strong and courageous to do what He calls me to do, but this strength does not come from my ability. Rather it comes from Christ’s presence in me.
- I need to remember what God has done for me in my life. This way I will be reminded of God’s faithfulness and will be encouraged to continue to trust Him.
- God’s instructions to the Israelites for the ‘battle’ of Jericho may have seemed outrageous, but God was teaching them to wait for His instruction. In the same way, I need to be patient before the Lord and wait for His instruction. He has a plan for my life, and although I may not be able to see it, I need to be patient and wait for His instruction because His timing is best!
- God is passionate about holiness. I need to ask myself if my relationship with Him is as exclusive as that between a husband and a wife. In my life, there are still things that I place before God so I need to put God as my first priority and as my first love. Idolatry is like adultery to God and so I need to ask Him to show me any areas in my life that I am putting before Him. Only then, once I am truly passionate about God and His Word, can He really begin to show me wondrous things.
- Achan’s ‘little sin’ caused the death of not only his family and his livestock but also the lives of 36 soldiers. This put into perspective the stupidity of sin. Not only is it harmful to me, but it can have devastating effects on people around me. I need to ask God to reveal my hidden sins and to continue to change me. Whether it is by accident or on purpose, sin has consequences. It is only by running to Jesus and taking refuge in Him that I will be saved and it is only by His death and resurrection that I can have new life.
- Although God had already given the Israelites the land, it took five years of war before all the organized resistance was overcome. In the same way, my relationship with God will take time. I need to daily, constantly, devote time to Him and ask Him to teach me. It is only with time and commitment and faithfulness that I will begin to learn. Even though it may seem as though I am in an interminable battle, I can rest in the assurance that I don’t know the end of the story, but God does! There will always be small pockets of resistance in m life, but if I give the battle to God, He will fight and be victorious.
- When I come to the word of God, whether it is for my quiet time, during a sermon, or while listening to a podcast, I need to come with a sense of awe that the God of the universe is speaking to me (I need to ask God to create this sense of awe in me). I then need to ask God to show me wondrous things and to teach me. Every time I come to His word, He wants to reveal Himself to me, but I need to ask Him to make me open to His teaching. Then He will make His word come alive for me. But I need to be patient and keep asking as He teaches me to hear His voice and understand His teaching.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Back at the Crossing!!!
Back in Geraldine after two days of travel! I made it on all my flights. Ironically, the only portion of my trip that glitched was the only confirmed part! I was supposed to take the bus to Methven and I was going to meet up with Ben and Robert there and hopefully get a ride back with them to Geraldine on Monday. Unfortunately, I was waiting for the bus at the wrong spot and so I missed it. But the lady at the travel information desk was super helpful and booked a hostel for me in Christchurch and a bus to Geraldine on Saturday. And it turned out to be a really good thing because Ben and Robert had run out of cash and were tired of travelling and so they never went to Methven but instead pitched their ‘tent’ on the grass on the side of the road outside of the Crossing. (Their ‘tent’ consisted of a tarp and a piece of carpet for a mattress.) So it was a pretty cool God-incidence that I didn’t make it to Methven! I guess this is God’s way of reminding me that His plans are far greater than my plans!
And as an extra bonus, Dale and Patti called up a lady from the church who let me stay at her hostel at almost no cost! And she even has been providing me with meals over the weekend!
Hanna let us move back into the crossing a day early since we were back in town. So Ben, Robert and I have been helping out a bit with some of the cleaning like making of beds and vacuuming (And I got to short sheet a bed!).
Cam just walked into the library, and Joel and Jonas are here (And Joel got a haircut!!!). Everyone should be here by supper tonight, I can’t wait!!!
And as an extra bonus, Dale and Patti called up a lady from the church who let me stay at her hostel at almost no cost! And she even has been providing me with meals over the weekend!
Hanna let us move back into the crossing a day early since we were back in town. So Ben, Robert and I have been helping out a bit with some of the cleaning like making of beds and vacuuming (And I got to short sheet a bed!).
Cam just walked into the library, and Joel and Jonas are here (And Joel got a haircut!!!). Everyone should be here by supper tonight, I can’t wait!!!
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