A friend recently asked why I am so stressed. It got me thinking. Why do I get myself in a stressed out state? It's unbiblicle. It isn't good for my health. People don't like to be around me when I get like that. I'm not fixing or helping in anyway the thing that I'm stressed about. And last, but certainly not least I'm not trusting God with my life.

So the next time you see me stressing over something and not trusting God for the outcome. Please tell me to take a deep breathe and pray with me.

A guy sat down to write a story. He though as he sharpened his pencil,' Who will be my main character? Should it be a boy or a girl? A girl. What family should I put her in? What special gifts and abilities should I give her?'

He starts writing. He puts her in a large family and gives her many blessings in her life. 'What kind of story should this be? Action, romance, mystery, or inspirational?'

He thinks for a moment and decides all of them. He wants to make this story really special. He already loves his heroine so much.

He gives her puzzles to work out. He watches her as guides her through obstacles. He is filled with happiness as she finds some one to love for the rest of her life. He smiles when she's happy and joyful. He nearly cries when she is facing tuff times and needs someone to cry with.

After writing for what seems a couple of decades, he sets down his pencil and takes time to reflect on what he has just written. "It is good," he whispers softly.

Our heavenly Father writes our story. Can we wait patiently for the end of the story to be revealed?

I went to a conference last weekend and over that weekend God really reached out and touched me. The speaker spoke just what I needed to hear and the worship band was one of the best I have ever seen. They truly knew how to worship God. I came back so blessed from the trip; however, ever since I got back I feel like the Satan has been attacking my friends and me. But God is in control.

Matthew 8:23-26

Jesus Calms the Storm

23Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"

26He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

God right know is saying to me,"Why are you afraid? I'm here and I am in control. I will take care of you."

Our God is a loving God. Some day it will be completely calm.

James 1:2-4

Trials and Temptations

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Okay this is a girls only post. Sorry guys, but this really won't be something that you want to hear.

Isaiah 30:19-22
19 O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. 20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." 22 Then you will defile your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, "Away with you!"

Look at what these verse s are saying. It's saying that we will turn from our idols. We will love the Lord so much that we will throw it away and see just how gross and dispicalbe our idols really are. As soon as we ask our Father for help He will not only hear us, but He will open our eyes and ears so that we can have understanding. He will give us guidence and show us just how much we really need Him. That is too cool for me.

Older and wiser
This is not always so
I don't know

Growing older means
Relying more on me
Is that what I want to be

As I walk through trials
And worlds unknown
May I cling to You
And not let go
My Heavenly Father
I cry
Give me faith as a child

Simpler and easier
The way it was long ago
I didn't know

Cleaner, purer
My heart now is torn
Between mine and Yours

As I walk through trials

And worlds unknown

May I cling to You

And not let go

My Heavenly Father

I cry

Give me faith as a child

Not an emotion that will soon pass away

Not thinking about it real hard

Not something I just say

To have something to say

It is being sure and certain

Of what I may not see

And trusting You through the mundane and insane

Lord, I don't understand
Why I'm suffering in Your Plan
Why I struggle through trials day by day
Though I may not see how this will end
How You'll bring out Your perfect plan
Yet still I'll sing glory to Your name

Great is my Lord
Merciful to me
Holy is my God
Ever loving me
Pure is my King
Cleansing and washing me
Thank You Father for saving me

Isaiah 30:18
18 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you;
he rises to show you compassion.
For the LORD is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!

I have been much in need of this verse lately. I have needed the Lords active compassion and He has given it just as this verse promises.

Currently ReadingCommon Grounds: Conversations About the Things That Matter Most
By Ben Young, Glenn Luckesee related

I'm over due for a book review.
I was given this book from the author himself. It is a very different sort of book and I learned alot from reading it.
The story line is three friends who have know eachother from college go out for coffee about once a week. They all have different religous beliefs. Two of them are christians, but belong to very different denominations. The third is an atheist. One of them hears a pastor who comes and preaches at his church. He is captivated by what the pastor says and it gives him a whole new insite to his faith. He invites the pastor to the coffee meetings with his friends. They discuss a lot of thoelogical matters that the three friends have questions about. The questions are not easy ones and I love the way that the story uses so much scripture. It is an awsome book that has deepened my faith and understanding of God.

"We are called to do good works and to do good work."

My friend Mike said this one day and it really stuck with me. We were discussing music and whether it was okay to listen to secular music. I said that it was and that I do. I'm just careful with what I listen to. He said that he was really disappointed with some Christian artist because they didn't seem to do good work.
He gave the example of Marlene Manson. Marlene Manson may not do good works, but he does good work. He is a very effective artist in that he is able to make you feel the emotions he wants you to through his music.
Now I don't listen and hopefully never will listen to Marlene Manson, but my friend Mike does have a point and it applies to my life. I may do good works, but am I doing them well? Am I doing everything in a way that would please, serve, and worship my Savior? Am I doing everything to the fullest? No, I'm not.

Father, I pray that You would work through me and not only do good works, but good work as well. May I be a testimony of Your greatness. Make me more and more like You. Amen.

We went to Frostburg to go see my sister for her birthday this weekend.... or so I thought. I was not happy about this trip. I had made plans for this weekend I couldn't believe that my parents made a last minute to go see Annalee for her birthday. I had made sure to tell them I had plans, but they decided to go anyway.

We met my sister and her boyfriend, Eric, at Burger King for dinner on Friday. We sat down to eat and I noticed my mom was doing something funny with her hands. Shaking them in a weird way. I looked at her and she nodded towards my older sister. I looked at my older sister and then I looked at her a hands. I saw that she had gotten a nice pretty new ring. A NICE PRETTY NEW RING!

She saw my glance and then she told us that Eric had proposed to her! She told us how her proposed and we all agreed that we will send our boyfriends to him for lessons on how to propose.

He had a project for his astronomy class and he did a presentation on the stars. At the end he asked my sister how it went. He then said he had some questions for her and asked her several questions about stars and such. He then said," I have one final question." Then he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. She said yes. They called my parents and told them, but asked them to not tell us girls because Annalee wanted to tell us in person.

Isn't that totally AWESOME! I have done a lot of shouting in this post, but the I am just so happy. Hugs and kisses to you all and great is our God who has the perfect plan.

How blessed our we to have a Father who shows us such favor when we are in need of it.

3"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

There is so much I want to do for the ministry of Christ, but only so little I can do. I am really struggling with which ministry do I want to be a part of. I would love to quite school and just spend all my time working on the different ministry I'm interested in, but I need some schooling before I can do that. So for know some of that work is put on hold. My heart cries to do it now, but God is saying wait. So I'll wait.

Psalm 27:14
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.

I think I posted a few weeks ago that I would be volunteering at an assisted living faculty for some extra credit. I am "teaching" a bible study there with about ten ladies. It's wonderful. I love putting together a little bible study and I live the women there. They are so sweet. I haven't talked about it with my parents, but I'm thinking about volunteering there after I am done with my ten hours. Pray that the Lord would show me what I have time for and what I want to do.

I was recently reading Psalm 119. Two words that pops up a lot are teach and law. The author pleads with God continuly to teach him His laws. I don't like having rules pushed on me all the time. But this man could not seem to get enough of God's laws. That just speaks of how freeing God's laws are compared to man's laws. Isn't that awe inspiring.

To be given to all children running around after Church... but in reality our kids our pretty good.

Psalm 27:1-3

Of David.

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh, ^[a]
when my enemies and my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.

3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident.

Drama, tears, late at night. Pain, rage, yet healing. Effects of what I thought was hidden sin brought to light. Thank You for being my strength, because it is to much to bear alone.

"The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body."

1 Corinthians 6:13b

The worlds definition of love is so different than God's. God's definition is way more awesome than whatever feeble explination of love we can come up with.

1 Corinthians 13

Love

1If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,^[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Not everything is beneficial

Part two of the series.

1 Corinthians 6:12

12"Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything.

This verse can cause much confusion. I have often heard it misquoted; however, I recently had it explained to me in a way that made so much sense.

The background of this verse is that the Corinthians were saying that they had the freedom in Christ to do anything they wanted. If you look later in the passage it implies that this might have meant to be as sexually immoral as they wanted. If you look at my previous post you can see why this was so bad. They said that "Everything is permissible" for them, but Paul was telling tthathaat is not what freedom in Christ means. We do have a grace where God forgives us, but that doesn't mean we go out and sin on purpose. Yet that is just what the Corinthians were doing. This raises the question what is exactly freedom in Christ then? Freedom in Christ means we know have the freedom to do good. Let me explain. Before Christ we were depraved and unable to do be holy. We had to live by the law yet were unable to keep that law. When Christ came, he broke the law and gave us the freedom to do good.He gave us freedom to depend on Him for our stregth and goodness and not our selves. Pretty amazing.

Yes we do have a certain freedom where if we sin God will forgive us, but our true freedom is now in our relationship with Christ. Why taint this freedom with sin?

Lord, I thank You for the freedom that You give. I thank You for the price You paid so I could have that freedom. Give me strength to do Your will. Amen

It's time for another series. If you never read my fist series they are called: Walk in Love, Walk in Light, and Walk in Wisdom.

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (New International Version)

Sexual Immorality

12"Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13"Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"—but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh."^[a] 17But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

18Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

For a long the verse,"Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body" has puzzled me. It would see that we know enough abomedicineine now that we know that there are many things we do to our bodies that harm us. We smoke, we drink, we starve ourselves, and we over eat. On the whole we can do a lot to harm ourselves. But why should sexual immortality be the only sin against the body?

First look at the text. It says above in verse 17 is says,"But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit." Pretty cool, right. It is a beautiful and wonderful thing that we can have communion and unity with God. We have a personal union with the Holy Spirit. Sex anotherher, different kind of union. One that God has set apart for only a man and his wife. When we give ourselves so freely over to fornication, it is abominationion. You are defiling God's temple and your relationship with God. We have been made alive by Christ's death on the cross. We have been created to be made on with God, to worship God. Why taint that beauty with our immortality?

Father, please make me pure and holy, fit to have communion with You. Thank You for communion and the blessing of Your relationship. May I never turn away from it. Amen.

I read this article in World Magazine that really made me think. It showed me a whole new way of looking at our faith. It also explained why God has us use faith.

All your mind by Andree Seu
It's for a good reason that the Christian life is not a to-do list Andree Seu
Joseph found his betrothed to be with child—and not by him. "Being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, [he] resolved to divorce her quietly" rather than throw the book at her (Matthew 1:19). Small footnote in Scripture; big leap in this reader's understanding. Here was a thinker, a grappler, who wrestled within the parameters of righteousness and found one way more excellent than another.
Father Abraham, there was another thinker. He "considered his own body, which was as good as dead." Then he thought about the promise of God "that he should become the father of many nations." Then he thought about God's track record for keeping His word, and Abraham emerged from that mental exercise deciding to trust in God (Romans 4).
Mary "pondered" (Luke 2:19), and Daniel "sought to understand" (Daniel 8:15), and the Psalmist cried, "Search me" (Psalm 139:23). None of them thought it unscriptural to be analytical, or a usurpation of the Holy Spirit's role to engage their faculty of reason. The Lord was in the process.
If the Pharisees had known what it meant to love the Lord with "all your mind" (Mark 12:30) and not to reduce righteousness to rote rules, they might have understood why mercy is better than sacrifice (Matthew 12:7), and why money donated to the Temple does not absolve you of obligation to your parents (Matthew 15:1-9), and why people hanging around Jesus don't feel like fasting (Mark 2:18-22).
I have often wished the Christian life were a to-do list dispensed daily from on high, eliminating guesswork:
Today, call your mother
Increase your tithe by $20
Send Calvin to Philmont Christian Academy
Read this book, not that one
Move to Winnsboro, Texas
Plastics!
I would gladly comply with that kind of piety. But I think the Christian life is by faith in order that it be by engagement of "all your mind" (Romans 14:5b).
How would you like it if your husband gave you his body and paycheck but showed no interest in getting to know you? God wants your mind more than your tithe. Likewise, the second great commandment is a mental workout, too, say Allender and Longman in Bold Love. Who is my neighbor? How does a mile in his shoes feel? How can I love him for his own good?
They say we use just a fraction of our minds. I do. Something is bugging me—dull, like a pebble in the shoe—and I just live with it, carrying free-floating angst all day. Why not set my mind to name it, and locate the "root" of that bothersome "fruit" (Luke 6:43-45)? The unjust steward in Luke 16:1-8 didn't blubber but brainstormed. "Crying is all right in its way while it lasts. But you have to stop sooner or later, and then you still have to decide what to do" (C.S. Lewis, The Silver Chair).
Self-diagnostic questions: Why am I miserable? What desire of mine is being frustrated? What is it I fear? (Here you will face some ugly truths.) Follow the process through and you are brought to a decision point. What was amorphous before is now a fully conscious raft of options.
I don't know what the inside of your head looks like, but mine looks like Guernica. You don't realize how out of control your thought life is until the day you try to rein it in. Redeemer, redeem every part of me, "take every thought captive" (2 Corinthians 10:5)!
Some things I've decided in my mind you would probably call legalistic. There are foods I don't do because they lead me to weight gain, and weight gain to depression. Depression, in turn, hinders my race. Ergo, donuts are sin for me, but not for you. (It's just between me and God.)
My friend Barbara's hip starts aching and she knows it's time for a visit to the chiropractor, and he does this thing with her ankle and it puts her whole body back in alignment. What's good for hips and cars is good for minds. I take regular inventory: "OK," I say to myself: "What is it I said I believed about Jesus?" "Do I have good cause to believe it?" "Shall I continue to follow Christ or not?"
Jesus once put a demoniac "in his right mind" (Mark 5:15). I thought about that and figured He can do it again.