Vanishing Away...

The other morning I was walking down in the woods early in the morning(Which I love doing! It is so beautiful and peaceful in the morning and the way the dew sparkles on the leaves! O.K. I'll stop now!). But I was down walking and praying and I was pleading with God to use me wherever He wants me. I want Him to use me for His glory, not my own. I want to walk in His will with whomever He gives to walk beside me or if He doesn't I'll walk alone with Him. I don't want to go to Germany and just teach the missionary's children, I want to work beside them in their ministry. I want to fill whatever they need they have. I know you hear of those people who say this but you can tell by their life that they don't really want to. But I do! I don't want God to ever put me on the shelf because I am not willing.
I stood a while on the bridge down at the creek and watched the water go down stream. I was reminded of how our lives are but a short time here on earth. What am I truly doing for God? Am I doing as much as I can for Him? Are you doing everything you can?

Lesson from a Single's Activity

We had a singles activity last Thursday and Mr. Serafin(he hosted our activity at his house) gave a challenge that made a lot of sense and all of us singles deal with it.
Genesis one is the creation of the world, and how after everything that the Lord made He said, "it was good." And on the sixth day He said "it was very good." God created it all, it was perfect.
In chapter two the Lord created man, but there is an interesting thing mentioned in verse eighteen that, "It is not good that man should be alone;"(Vs.18) First God made everything and said it was very good and then He made man and said it wasn't good for him to be alone. So He brought a woman along in His timing, mind you, and it was all good again. God has someone for everyone, except for those who are serving the Lord in areas that a relationship doesn't seem to be the wisest. But we can know that it isn't good for most of us to go through life alone. Two heads are better than one. So much more can be done, when two people are serving the Lord together. Anyway, I thought this was interesting, hope is may have touch someone else's life.

Qualities of Love

Pastor was preaching yesterday on Faithful men and how in leadership they must have love. But I learned so much from it myself, I wanted to post it. It is taken from I Corinthians 13.

1. Love is long-tempered and patient, doesn't have a short fuse.
2. Love isn't a sour attitude or a sarcastic remark; it's Christian kindness- open your heart to help others.
3. Love sees every person equally, regardless of money or status. Ask God to bless everyone(Rom.12:15). Don't want what you don't have.
4. Love doesn't brag or boast what they've done (Prov.27:2). "Don't live so others may be impressed with you but they are impressed with your God."
5. Love is mannerly and considerate; leads is to act as ladies and gentlemen, live for the good of the family and God's family. Ladies are to be cherished and treated as special.
6. Love is "others" oriented, the love of Jesus. This causes you to get along with others.
7. Love isn't offended and isn't concerned with their "rights".
8. Love doesn't wish evil on others or think evil of others.
9. Love doesn't rejoice over someone backsliding, loosing, or hurting. He doesn't enjoy things God has commanded against. They love this that are pure and godly.
10. Love lives with silence, endures patiently, forbear. They are silent about another person's faults, we all have them. This is the opposite of hatred. Proverbs 10:12- God condemns us from covering our own sins, deal with your sin. (I Peter 4:8)
11. Love has a trusting outlook on life, other believers. They are trusting God and at peace. Choose not to believe the worst, believe the best.
12. Love is a calm trust in the Lord, that He will take care of everything. Nothing is bigger than our God. (Rom.8:35-39, Ps. 37:23)

Obedience to the Father

The other day I was reading in my devotions and came across something interesting in Psalm 119. Verses 17-24 were where I was reading. Psalm 119 is full of references to the law, statutes, and the word, and all these can represent the Lord and His commands. We must obey His word. There are many examples and lessons in verses 17-24.
Verse 17 ~ The Lord saves us so we live for Him and obey His commands.
Verse 18 ~ Everyday was must ask the Lord to show us His way and obey it.
Verse 19 ~ We really are only strangers in this world and we need a guide.
Verse 20 ~ Does your soul really long to know God and follow Him?
Verse 21 ~ There are consequences to not obeying the Lord's commands.
Verse 22 ~ People will falsely accuse you and make fun of you, just continue to obey, God will bless for it.
Verse 23 ~ Don't just learn it, think and apply it!
Verse 24 ~ Let God's Word be the guiding force in all you do and rejoice that He is leading you.

Exerpt from Stepping Heavenward

I am reading the book Stepping Heavenward, it is a little hard to understand at times and I don't fully agree with it but there was a really good paragraph that I thought I would post.
"I do see that the Christian life must be individual, as the natural character is, and that I cannot be exactly like Dr. Cabot, or exactly like Mrs. Campbell, or exactly like Mother, though thay all three stimulate and are an inspiration to me... This is the testimony of all the good books, sermons, hymns, and memoirs I read- that God's ways are infinitely perfect; that we are to love Him for what He is and prospers us; that there is no real happiness but in doing and suffering His will; and that this life is but a scene of probation through which we pass to the real life above." (P.258)
Our life is not about copy another person's and being like someone else. We have to be ourself and live for God to best that we know how. The only one that we ought to imitate is Christ, and never will I be completely like Him, but I must try.

The Blessings of Friends

I am posting again and I have a ton of new thoughts to post. But one of the hugest blessings I had this week was from the friends the Lord has given me. I was thinking of all the wonderful friends I have both from church and school and other places.

I got to spend last Thursday with my friend Samantha, who is a huge blessing and going through a lot of the same things as I. She is going away to teach like I am, leaving home and family to go to a place you do not know(she's going to West Virginia). Then the same night Seth and Brenda showed up for church where we were down at school. So I got to see Brenda and then she told me that she was coming to my church on Sunday.

Sunday Morning Brenda came up and gave me a card and said, "Don't open it in here, it has music." So I took it home and open it, it started singing "You've Got a Friend in me" and she wrote in it reminding me of some memories we've had. So I wrote her a card back, (even though mine didn't sing) and told her how much I loved her and I reminded her of some good times we've had since our freshman year. Good Times, Good Times! =) But it was good to see her and spend some time with her.

And I can't forget to mention Seth, he's there every church service asking me how things are going for me and asks what the latest news on Germany is. He's a faithful friend and I've known him a good while. Yeah, I'm afraid he knows me real well, maybe a little too well! ;) Nah, he's just seen me with my family in many interesting situations.

Sunday night I was also given a letter from my best friend Ruth. I had given her a card Friday at VBS just telling her how much I appreciate her and our friendship. The Lord definately planned for us to be friends. We can just be together, not doing anything, and still have the greatest time. We really got to talk on July 5th while watching fireworks and I just wrote some things for her to expect when she goes to college(This is going to be her first year). She wrote back just telling me that she was so glad that I wrote her that letter. But that isn't the point. I don't get to see her very often, because she works at her Dad's camp during the week, but anytime we get to spend together, just her and I is wonderful! Our friendship is kinda like being sisters, I guess minus the fighting. ;) But neither of us worry how to act around each other, we just act ourselves and we accept each other despite of it. She is a friend like the picture says, one that reminds me of what God has done in my life and what He is continuing to do.
Because of these friends, not leaving out any of you others, I am so thankful for everyone of you. But God reminded me the other day of how blessed I am to have godly, encouraging, believers of like faith who are my friends. So I am so thankful for each one of you and I can say like David:
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"
Psalm 133:1

May This Be the Prayer of My Life

I was looking in my Bible today and in the front of the one I use for church I found a quote I had written in there. It's a quote from Betty Scott Stam, missionary with her husband to China, who both were martyrs for Christ. This was the prayer of hers:
"Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes, and accept Thy will for my life. I give myself, my life, my all utterly to Thee to be Thine forever. Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit. Use me as Thou wilt,send me where Thou wilt, work out Thy whole will in my life at any cost, now and forever."
This ought to be the prayer of every Christian, but what a high calling! To tell the Lord that you want to serve Him no matter what; this could mean anything, the Lord could take my life on my flight to Germany but if that is what He wants then I'll do it. I want this to be my prayer for the rest of my life, I want the Lord to use me, I never want to get to the point where I don't want to serve Him anymore. With the Lord's help we can live for Him the rest of our lives and that is what I want. May we serve Him, no matter what.

Children

"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD:" ~Ps 127:3~

Since the beginning of the summer I've had the chance to work with different age groups in various situations. Teaching the 4&5's, counseling in the 15-18yr. old girls cabins, getting ready to help with 1st graders in VBS, playing with the Youth Pastor's baby. The more I've thought about it, Psalm 127:3 doesn't necessarily have to apply to parents. Those of us that work with children know what a blessing they can be. The word heritage means an heirloom- these special people that God has allowed us to work with are treasures. And each one is different in their own unique way.
The baby has no care in the world except to eat, play and smile at everyone.The young ones are so frank with what they say and how easily they tell you they love you. The middle aged ones are so excited about learning and discovering things. The teen girls I worked with are at the age of trying to figure out what it means to know God and live for Him but they have all these struggles of being a teenager too. Each age is at a different stage in life and yet each one still needs guidance to help them in their lives with Christ.
I've heard others say that they "love babies" or they "love working with teenagers" and I know what they mean, but I think I've discovered that to me it doesn't matter what age they are, I love working with them. I love each group and I look forward to the day when Lord willing I may have children of my own.
The Lord showed His love for children in Matt. 19:14, "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Children are the future generation, they need to be our focus, winning them to Christ and helping them grown to be the next spiritual leaders. Well, enough of my rambling, I think I've discovered one thing: I Love Children, no matter how different they may be!

*Sidenote:The picture is one of my sister Erin(with the curly hair), my cousin Jake,and my other cousin Tristyn(in the pigtails). It was taken years ago at a Davis family reunion.*

Blind But Happy

Oh, what a happy soul I am,
Although I cannot see,
I am resolved that in this world,
Contented I will be.

How many blessings I enjoy
That others people don't!
To weep and sigh because I'm blind,
I cannot not I won't.

~Fanny Crosby~
What a testimony of one of our greatest hymnwriters in history! Oh, that I would accept everything in my life as from the Lord like she did. I love her testimony and all of her songs and poems written. I thought I would share this short poem of hers when I found it today.

Resting In His Will

I was reading a pamphlet the other day called The Joy of Resting In The will of God. I had a lot of good points, so I thought I would post it. I know how much I love reading things on God's will. So I will post some of the thoughts.

When Christ was in the garden and Peter chopped off the soldiers ear Jesus said this, "Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" John 18:11 The Lord gives us all a "cup" to drink of, that's His will. But there are some things about the cup.

1. It is a Planned Cup ~ It isn't an accident what the Lord gives us, He's known His plan for us even before we were born. "The One who is perfect in wisdom has planned all the cups of life." But sometimes we don't like the cup and we feel it is bitter. "Never forget, however, it is the cup, no matter how distasteful it may seems, that my Father has given me. God is my Father and as such will allow nothing to come into my life that is not good for me."

2. It is a Personal Cup ~ No one Jesus could drink His cup, and no one else can drink the cup that God has specifically poured for us. These are God's specific plans for each one of us.

3. It is a Bitter Cup ~ Christ took the sin of the whole world, He who knew no sin. But He didn't shrink from this great task he had to perform. Sometime we will have bitter cups, those times when a loved one passes away or some other tragedy happens to us. I Peter 4:12 "We will have cups of suffering, as well as cups of blessing."

4. It is a Measured Cup ~ Some times we feel like we have too much, we can't handle what God has given us. But remember, "Its contents are measured and limited by divine omniscience. He knows how much we can take." I Cor. 10:13

5. It needs to be an Accepted Cup ~ "This is the key to Christian joy --the repudation of my will and the acceptance of His will." we may think we know what is best for us, but really we don't, God knows best. Ps 18:30 "The acceptance of God's perfect will has a very practical outcome.
a. There is constant joy because I know I am in my Savior's will.
b. There is constant courage when facing life's trials because I know I am in His hands.
c. There is constant peace. John 14:27

Don't Trip!

I was thinking the other day about something. You know we hear it preached all the time that we need to be careful that we are not a stumblingblock. That we don't cause another believer to trip and fall in their walk with Christ. Well, some of the verses in I Corinthians 8 speak of meat and how this was a stumblingblock for other believers and if it was going to cause soemone to stumble then Paul said he wasn't going to eat it. Verse nine says, "But take heed lest by any means this liberty of your's become a stumblingblock to them that are weak." Somethings are simple as meat be a stumblingblock! Crazy! But I was thinking that not only we can be a stumbling block but there are probably things in our lives that are stumbling blocks for us. For some of us books may be a stumblingblock, the word stumblingblock in verse nine simply means an offence. Our books may be an offence to others but they also might be an offence to God. If we are spending too much time reading books then spending time with God then we have a problem. I just used books as an example but there are any number of things that could be used. What about t.v.? Video Games? Hanging out with friends? Listening to music? Any of these things could be a stumblingblock in our lives if we let it get out of control. I am reminded of the verse in Eph.5:16, "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." So what is your stumblingblock? We all have them, but with the Lord's help we can get rid of them, maybe not fully but learn how to control those things that we struggle with.