This semester, God has been teaching me about faith. I didn't ask for a lesson on faith. I asked him to teach me about love. I did a lot of thinking and goal setting on New Years, and prayed that God would help me to see His love for me. But He chose to start with Faith. Now I am sitting in my apartment, listening to the wind howl, thinking, God really knows what He is doing. The thing is, imagining saying I love you to a child holding her hands over her hears singing as loud as she could. She wouldn't hear. She wouldn't believe. How can God show me He loves me when I won't believe it?
I have a serious faith problem. But I have a seriously gracious God. See, I want faith to be this great, rapturous feeling. I want to KNOW God is with me all the time. Essentially, I want faith to be sight. But God is asking me to trust and obey, to "act like what God says is true is true," regardless of how I feel. The thing is, God loves me, whether I feel it or not. Whether I see it or not. This is what I call GOOD NEWS.
And we glorify Him when we act in faith. When we trust and obey Him. Also good news. So even if I am a fearful, anxious, crazy mess, when I act in faith, God is honored. I am so thankful I don't have to get it together to be used by Him. I just have to respond to what He is leading me to do, and to trust Him. This isn't easy, but it's okay. We don't have to worry about messing up. Can I get an AMEN?!
So God loves me. I believe it. What a funny way to teach me about love. I wanted sunshine and flowers. He lets me go through haze, and asks me to trust Him. But oh, His ways are better than mine. I know this is true. I pray, as I'm writing this, that whoever reads this will be filled with Faith in the One True God, and put their trust in Him, and His word.
Psalm 1, Jer 17
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Beautiful
I saw the sky with diamond stars
From the southern hemisphere.
I let her strong caramel voice
Calm and soothe my fear.
I put my hands into the glass
And touched an answered prayer
I watched them walking hand in hand
With aged and gentle care.
From the southern hemisphere.
I let her strong caramel voice
Calm and soothe my fear.
I put my hands into the glass
And touched an answered prayer
I watched them walking hand in hand
With aged and gentle care.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
a key to joy?
"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Col 1:17
I live in a small but lovely two bedroom apartment with three beautiful and incredibly diverse girls. The four of us are about as different as different can get. There is Chimgee, from Mongolia, a woman of God whose faith and perseverence humbles me to my core, Karen, my precious friend from Hong Kong, who always listens well and lives to please her Lord alone, Jessica, a stylish, creative and hilarious artist from Oklahoma, who loves to laugh and share, and me. More about the three of them later... they deserve a blog each. But that's just background for my story on thanksgiving.
This morning, Karen and I woke bright and early to have quiet time before class. Karen walked into the kitchen, turned on the sink and garbage disposal, and it started growling at us in a way that definitely meant it was unhappy. I walked over to inspect it with her, and we found that there was a handful tiny popcorn kernels down in the bottom... not particularly garbage disposal friendly. I reached my hand down, but they slipped and jumped and refused to be caught. It took about a full minute to grab just one. The last thing I wanted to be doing at 7 in the morning was sticking my hand down a dirty drain to fish for tiny popcorn kernels. My first response was pretty much bitter frustration. It was not cute. But then, Karen and I decided that for each popcorn kernel we pulled out we would say something we were thankful for. One at a time, we reached in, grabbed one, pulled it out, and thanked God for our apartment, his provision, something. I know it sounds cheesy, but I don't even care: It worked and our hearts changed.
God amazes me. He truly changes our hearts as we obey him. He can turn something nasty into something beautiful. Sitting in traffic, waiting in the grocery store line, having a friend forget to meet you... When we start finding things to be thankful for, or countenance just changes. This is just one more incredible blessing of being in the body of Christ- we really can be thankful, and joyful, in the most, for lack of better words, "blegh" situations.
I live in a small but lovely two bedroom apartment with three beautiful and incredibly diverse girls. The four of us are about as different as different can get. There is Chimgee, from Mongolia, a woman of God whose faith and perseverence humbles me to my core, Karen, my precious friend from Hong Kong, who always listens well and lives to please her Lord alone, Jessica, a stylish, creative and hilarious artist from Oklahoma, who loves to laugh and share, and me. More about the three of them later... they deserve a blog each. But that's just background for my story on thanksgiving.
This morning, Karen and I woke bright and early to have quiet time before class. Karen walked into the kitchen, turned on the sink and garbage disposal, and it started growling at us in a way that definitely meant it was unhappy. I walked over to inspect it with her, and we found that there was a handful tiny popcorn kernels down in the bottom... not particularly garbage disposal friendly. I reached my hand down, but they slipped and jumped and refused to be caught. It took about a full minute to grab just one. The last thing I wanted to be doing at 7 in the morning was sticking my hand down a dirty drain to fish for tiny popcorn kernels. My first response was pretty much bitter frustration. It was not cute. But then, Karen and I decided that for each popcorn kernel we pulled out we would say something we were thankful for. One at a time, we reached in, grabbed one, pulled it out, and thanked God for our apartment, his provision, something. I know it sounds cheesy, but I don't even care: It worked and our hearts changed.
God amazes me. He truly changes our hearts as we obey him. He can turn something nasty into something beautiful. Sitting in traffic, waiting in the grocery store line, having a friend forget to meet you... When we start finding things to be thankful for, or countenance just changes. This is just one more incredible blessing of being in the body of Christ- we really can be thankful, and joyful, in the most, for lack of better words, "blegh" situations.
Friday, January 25, 2008
inspired
Last week I had a hard week. But it ended pretty good. Then this week, I had a hard week. But it ended good. I'm not even sure what I want to write right now, but I know that I am so inspired, I have to write. I think I'll write about the things that inspired me this week.
1) Todd Wagner. The speaker at the DTS chapel and pastor of Watermark church. This man is rooted and grounded in the Bible, and I think as he spoke more of God's word poured out of his mouth than his own words. As a result, my soul received a splash of cool water as he reminded DTS students of who God is, and what he wants to accomplish through His church. A few of the highlights: We are sanctified, justified, made right with God, empowered with his Holy Spirit, and He wants to and will do a magnificent work through us, if we will just believe Him.
2) A woman who I met with today (who I think would prefer to remain nameless) who opens herself up to be used by God, and spoke such truth into my life, I again felt completely refreshed and uplifted. She reminded me to not look to my generation, or the people around me to tell me who I am, but to look only to God and His word. She made me laugh, and when I said something ridiculous about feeling like I wasn't worth much, she actually said, "I think I can say from a more informed perspective that your feelings are completely out of touch with reality." I LOVE IT!
3) U2. I don't need to waste anytime touting Bono, but God used him and his band and his music to remind me that I want to live an extraordinary life. I want to be poured out as a drink offering to my Lord. God gave Bono music, and a heart for the widows and orphans, and he is obeying. God didn't give me music, I'm still trying to figure out what He's given me, but He gave me SOMETHING, and I want my life, this blog, this night at my apartment in downtown Dallas, everything to be poured out for God.
Let's just think for a moment about Fear. I'm talking, capital F, Fear. This is what the Enemy uses most in my life, to paralyze me, to make me completely over analytical, to stop me dead in my tracks. The word fear is used 326 times in the NIV Bible. Most of the time, it is commanding people who claim to follow the Lord to fear their God. This kind of fear means awe, reverence, a recognition of how Huge God is, and how small we are in significance. Most of the time, we lack this sense of fear. But the thing is, this God we should Fear, is the very one who cast out all other fear! (1 John 4:18 says "there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out all fear.") So we don't need to be afraid. Of failure. Of punishment. Of messing up. Of being rejected.
Oh, how I long to live a life that counts. How I long to see the Lord work in extraordinary ways. How I long to walk near to him, trusting Him day in and day out. Again, I write this to who knows who and without shame. If you don't know Him, ask me. He's the best thing that ever happened to me.
1) Todd Wagner. The speaker at the DTS chapel and pastor of Watermark church. This man is rooted and grounded in the Bible, and I think as he spoke more of God's word poured out of his mouth than his own words. As a result, my soul received a splash of cool water as he reminded DTS students of who God is, and what he wants to accomplish through His church. A few of the highlights: We are sanctified, justified, made right with God, empowered with his Holy Spirit, and He wants to and will do a magnificent work through us, if we will just believe Him.
2) A woman who I met with today (who I think would prefer to remain nameless) who opens herself up to be used by God, and spoke such truth into my life, I again felt completely refreshed and uplifted. She reminded me to not look to my generation, or the people around me to tell me who I am, but to look only to God and His word. She made me laugh, and when I said something ridiculous about feeling like I wasn't worth much, she actually said, "I think I can say from a more informed perspective that your feelings are completely out of touch with reality." I LOVE IT!
3) U2. I don't need to waste anytime touting Bono, but God used him and his band and his music to remind me that I want to live an extraordinary life. I want to be poured out as a drink offering to my Lord. God gave Bono music, and a heart for the widows and orphans, and he is obeying. God didn't give me music, I'm still trying to figure out what He's given me, but He gave me SOMETHING, and I want my life, this blog, this night at my apartment in downtown Dallas, everything to be poured out for God.
Let's just think for a moment about Fear. I'm talking, capital F, Fear. This is what the Enemy uses most in my life, to paralyze me, to make me completely over analytical, to stop me dead in my tracks. The word fear is used 326 times in the NIV Bible. Most of the time, it is commanding people who claim to follow the Lord to fear their God. This kind of fear means awe, reverence, a recognition of how Huge God is, and how small we are in significance. Most of the time, we lack this sense of fear. But the thing is, this God we should Fear, is the very one who cast out all other fear! (1 John 4:18 says "there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out all fear.") So we don't need to be afraid. Of failure. Of punishment. Of messing up. Of being rejected.
Oh, how I long to live a life that counts. How I long to see the Lord work in extraordinary ways. How I long to walk near to him, trusting Him day in and day out. Again, I write this to who knows who and without shame. If you don't know Him, ask me. He's the best thing that ever happened to me.
Monday, December 31, 2007
crossing cultures
I´m sitting in a casita in Puebla, Mexico, writing this blog because I have been dying to write all day. I´m here on vacation with my childhood friend Erika Wright. We came with our backpacks, passports, and excitement for a little adventure. It didn´t take too long. We arrived in Mexico City and boarded a bus for 2 hours to Puebla. We were supposed to stay the first 2 nights with a woman named Lorna that Erika had lived with when she studied abroad. On the bus Erika told me that Lorna hadn´t returned her emails or calls in about a month, so she wasn´t completely sure she knew we were coming. I smiled and said we´d go with the flow.
Sure enough, we arrived at the bus stop, caught a taxi to the families house, knocked on the door, and no one answered. It was dark, the streets were pretty much empty, and we were two gringas with backpacks looking slightly lost. So, we walked to a main street and started looking for a bus to a downtown area where we could find a hostel. We walked for awhile and decided to go back to check, just to be sure. Knock. Nothing. Erika started yelling, "mama, mama," and by God's grace eventually disturbed the neghbors enough to come out and see what was going on. We told her, and she called Lorna´s cell phone. She found out that Lorna had completely forgotten that we were coming, and that she was with a bunch of people at a bar about 15 minutes away. We left our backpacks with the neighbor and climbed in another taxi to hunt them down. We found them without much trouble, and I just thought, 'I love this.'
I love the unexpected! I love this part of being out of my comfort zone. We got to the bar at about 10, stayed till 12, and then went to Lorna´s daughters house with random family members and friends. and stayed there until 2 in the morning. I was absolutely dying, though, of exhaustion (I had woken up at 6 to drive from Dallas), and of cold (there is no heat or air conditioning in Puebla, and the house we were in was probably 55 degrees. And I thought my dad was torturing us at 70°.) But we sat and talked about anything and everything, ate and laughed while they drank and smoked. Thankfully, my Spanish was returning quickly so I could participate and laugh with them. By the time we got back to Lorna´s house I was so tired I could hardly see straight, and it was too late to get our bags so we just went upstairs and fell asleep, no toothbrushes, no big deal. While we went to bed, Lorna and her daughter in law stayed up to start making turkey for the next days festivities. I could not believe it. The Latino culture is so great in this way. It seems totally chaotic and spontaneous to me.
Today we woke up and toured all around the city, cathedrals, markets, parks, etc, and tonight we are going to celebrate the new year with the family. Right now I am sitting in Lorna´s bedroom while her 35 year old son plays Halo on the xbox, his wife combs their sons hair, Erika eats candy on the bed, and Lorna waxes her upper lip. This is so different and fun, and good for my heart.
Erika and I have been praying a lot for the family, the town, and ourselves here. It is hard to see emptiness in a culture that is so full of life and love for their families, but both of us together have been reminding each other of His word, and praying for Eternal focus, even on this little vacation. God has been graciously giving us opportunities to love on the family, and we are praying that we would be bold to obey Him, and that His light would shine through us. We´d love your prayers.
Un beso, Abby
Sure enough, we arrived at the bus stop, caught a taxi to the families house, knocked on the door, and no one answered. It was dark, the streets were pretty much empty, and we were two gringas with backpacks looking slightly lost. So, we walked to a main street and started looking for a bus to a downtown area where we could find a hostel. We walked for awhile and decided to go back to check, just to be sure. Knock. Nothing. Erika started yelling, "mama, mama," and by God's grace eventually disturbed the neghbors enough to come out and see what was going on. We told her, and she called Lorna´s cell phone. She found out that Lorna had completely forgotten that we were coming, and that she was with a bunch of people at a bar about 15 minutes away. We left our backpacks with the neighbor and climbed in another taxi to hunt them down. We found them without much trouble, and I just thought, 'I love this.'
I love the unexpected! I love this part of being out of my comfort zone. We got to the bar at about 10, stayed till 12, and then went to Lorna´s daughters house with random family members and friends. and stayed there until 2 in the morning. I was absolutely dying, though, of exhaustion (I had woken up at 6 to drive from Dallas), and of cold (there is no heat or air conditioning in Puebla, and the house we were in was probably 55 degrees. And I thought my dad was torturing us at 70°.) But we sat and talked about anything and everything, ate and laughed while they drank and smoked. Thankfully, my Spanish was returning quickly so I could participate and laugh with them. By the time we got back to Lorna´s house I was so tired I could hardly see straight, and it was too late to get our bags so we just went upstairs and fell asleep, no toothbrushes, no big deal. While we went to bed, Lorna and her daughter in law stayed up to start making turkey for the next days festivities. I could not believe it. The Latino culture is so great in this way. It seems totally chaotic and spontaneous to me.
Today we woke up and toured all around the city, cathedrals, markets, parks, etc, and tonight we are going to celebrate the new year with the family. Right now I am sitting in Lorna´s bedroom while her 35 year old son plays Halo on the xbox, his wife combs their sons hair, Erika eats candy on the bed, and Lorna waxes her upper lip. This is so different and fun, and good for my heart.
Erika and I have been praying a lot for the family, the town, and ourselves here. It is hard to see emptiness in a culture that is so full of life and love for their families, but both of us together have been reminding each other of His word, and praying for Eternal focus, even on this little vacation. God has been graciously giving us opportunities to love on the family, and we are praying that we would be bold to obey Him, and that His light would shine through us. We´d love your prayers.
Un beso, Abby
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
It is better to give than receive
"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:42-47
I didn't want to write this. No, I did want to write it, but I was afraid I wouldn't be able to write it well enough to do it justice. But I gave up waiting for divine inspiration, sat down on my couch with a pillow and a few Triscuits, and set myself to the task of telling you all about the beauty I have been a part of this week.
Last Thursday I was out to eat with my Youth Minister in Dallas, and when I left and drove to work, I reached back under my passenger seat to grab my backpack. To my shock, it was not there. I knew immediately that someone had broken into my car and taken the bag, containing my laptop computer with pictues, creative writing, and a semester of Seminary, none of which I had backed up. In just a few moments I had lost so much! I cried, talked to policemen, cried some more, talked to my dad and a good friend, cried more, and went home. There I had some time to sit and think about what had happened.
The policemen had said to me, "It's just things. They can be replaced," and I thought, "No, it isn't just things. It's pictures and all of my creative writing, poems, stories, and my notes from 3 months of class! How can you say 'just thing?!'" But as I sat and looked over the city of Dallas and prayed and cried, I realized that I was wrong. Those are just things. Just because something is irreplaceable doesn't make it any more eternal. I lost things, that's all. As I sat there, my Lord comforted me, and I knew it was okay to be sad for awhile about the things I had lost, but never to pity myself or to let my eyes fall away from what is eternal.
I had a lot to do that night in terms of getting notes from people, emailing my professors, figuring out how on earth to afford a new computer, etc. Instead, I baked banana bread for my roommates and neighbors. Baking was good therapy, you should try it.
The next morning, just before chapel, a friend of mine approached me and told me that she, along with 6 other of my good friends, wanted to do something for me. The eight of us had been planning a roadtrip to Colorado in which we would all pile into one car and live on PB and J, stay with my uncle, and just enjoy one another. They decided to cancel the trip and instead donate the money we would spend on gas to helping me get a new computer. Instead of going to Colorado, we would plan 3 full days of community and fun in Dallas. You can imagine my total shock. I didn't want to take it, to be honest. It is better to give, and difficult to receive. I mean, I need a computer, but surely God would provide in another way. As I prayed about it I asked, "Really, Lord?! Is this how you want to provide?! These are SEMINARY students! They do not have excess money!" But as I prayed alone and with them, we decided that this was the best decision. We cried and hugged, and the joy and love in this group was incredible. Later, another saint called to say that whatever we could not pay for he would help with. How can I express how humbled I was? I can only pray, and never repay.
It was worth it, to lose the computer, and all of the files on it, to see Acts 2 lived out in these people. I lost some pictures, funny movies, some writing. But I've never taken a picture as beautiful as the love in their eyes. And I've never written a poem that moved anyone as much as the words, "We want to help you," moved me.
God has given me so much. A computer is great, but He owns everything! He has given me something better- supportive friends, the chance to go to an incredible school to learn how to handle His word better, and most imporantly, a redeemed, restored relationship with Him. I pray this story gets used up. I pray that my friends have needs soon that I can help meet. I pray that because of this, people will come to know my God. I am so in love with Him, it hurts.
May He cause His face to shine upon you,
Abby
I didn't want to write this. No, I did want to write it, but I was afraid I wouldn't be able to write it well enough to do it justice. But I gave up waiting for divine inspiration, sat down on my couch with a pillow and a few Triscuits, and set myself to the task of telling you all about the beauty I have been a part of this week.
Last Thursday I was out to eat with my Youth Minister in Dallas, and when I left and drove to work, I reached back under my passenger seat to grab my backpack. To my shock, it was not there. I knew immediately that someone had broken into my car and taken the bag, containing my laptop computer with pictues, creative writing, and a semester of Seminary, none of which I had backed up. In just a few moments I had lost so much! I cried, talked to policemen, cried some more, talked to my dad and a good friend, cried more, and went home. There I had some time to sit and think about what had happened.
The policemen had said to me, "It's just things. They can be replaced," and I thought, "No, it isn't just things. It's pictures and all of my creative writing, poems, stories, and my notes from 3 months of class! How can you say 'just thing?!'" But as I sat and looked over the city of Dallas and prayed and cried, I realized that I was wrong. Those are just things. Just because something is irreplaceable doesn't make it any more eternal. I lost things, that's all. As I sat there, my Lord comforted me, and I knew it was okay to be sad for awhile about the things I had lost, but never to pity myself or to let my eyes fall away from what is eternal.
I had a lot to do that night in terms of getting notes from people, emailing my professors, figuring out how on earth to afford a new computer, etc. Instead, I baked banana bread for my roommates and neighbors. Baking was good therapy, you should try it.
The next morning, just before chapel, a friend of mine approached me and told me that she, along with 6 other of my good friends, wanted to do something for me. The eight of us had been planning a roadtrip to Colorado in which we would all pile into one car and live on PB and J, stay with my uncle, and just enjoy one another. They decided to cancel the trip and instead donate the money we would spend on gas to helping me get a new computer. Instead of going to Colorado, we would plan 3 full days of community and fun in Dallas. You can imagine my total shock. I didn't want to take it, to be honest. It is better to give, and difficult to receive. I mean, I need a computer, but surely God would provide in another way. As I prayed about it I asked, "Really, Lord?! Is this how you want to provide?! These are SEMINARY students! They do not have excess money!" But as I prayed alone and with them, we decided that this was the best decision. We cried and hugged, and the joy and love in this group was incredible. Later, another saint called to say that whatever we could not pay for he would help with. How can I express how humbled I was? I can only pray, and never repay.
It was worth it, to lose the computer, and all of the files on it, to see Acts 2 lived out in these people. I lost some pictures, funny movies, some writing. But I've never taken a picture as beautiful as the love in their eyes. And I've never written a poem that moved anyone as much as the words, "We want to help you," moved me.
God has given me so much. A computer is great, but He owns everything! He has given me something better- supportive friends, the chance to go to an incredible school to learn how to handle His word better, and most imporantly, a redeemed, restored relationship with Him. I pray this story gets used up. I pray that my friends have needs soon that I can help meet. I pray that because of this, people will come to know my God. I am so in love with Him, it hurts.
May He cause His face to shine upon you,
Abby
Saturday, November 03, 2007
The Good Life?
If some people (Brent McKinney), think that I am going to post every day my musings on life, those people are mistaken! Surely you have better things to read daily than my thoughts (try Brent's blog, the BBC news, or Till We Have Faces, by C.S. Lewis)... so I am going for once a week! And that is pretty dang good if you ask me.
DTS has been good, and hard. But honestly, I am thriving here. My respect for and reverence of God's word is growing so much, and I am more convinced than EVER (in spite of very difficult questions) that I am serving the one true God, and that his Bible is inspired. At the same time, I am filled with questions about this life I am living, and how to live it WELL. There are so many needs in this world, in this country, in Dallas, in the library I am sitting in right now, that my heart hurts. Just this week I read about forced prostitution in Thailand where girls and boys younger than I had fathomed are sold into the sex trade. Later I read about how 1500 languages in Africa still have not one book of the bible. Then I think about my neighbor, a full time student who has four kids, a wife whose health is faltering, and is unable to find a job... it can get overwhelming...
"Only one life, twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last." My friend Bill prefers to say "in" Christ, and I think I like his revision. My heart breaks for the people in need around me, and I commit my life to loving others as best as I know how, but always, ALWAYS for the sake of, and IN, Christ. God did not create me to run around like a chicken with my head cut off "meeting needs." He created me to LOVE Him, and to love others. I cannot do the latter when I neglect the first, and furthermore, there is no joy in it.
I heard someone once say, "The only Christian leader I know of who didn't have a 'gottago gottago gotta save the world' Messiah complex was, in fact, The Messiah!" Jesus rested. He talked, he had relationships. He went away by himself for awhile. He did not life a frantic life. But lest we read this and use it as an excuse for "selfishness," let's remember his sacrifice. He created the world, and then entered into it as a man. He knit people together, and they crucified him. No, Jesus did not live a frantic life. But he did lead a life of loving sacrifice. Oh, how I long for my life to look like his! For today, the only thing I know is I must spend time with him, and pray as I try to love others well.
Please pray for me as I look for direction and guidance, and as I seek to put Christ first in all I do. Pray for yourself too! Also, please look up around you, at the woman in the checkout line in the grocery store, at your neighbor, at your children. What needs to they have? Could God be calling you to serve them by helping to meet them? Oh, how I love Jesus! If you know him, I pray you walk closely with him today. If you don't, please email or call me and we can talk, or ask someone you think might know.
I'm sorry for this being a bit preachy! It was more like "thoughts" than an update. But whatever!
May God be glorified in all we say and do!
DTS has been good, and hard. But honestly, I am thriving here. My respect for and reverence of God's word is growing so much, and I am more convinced than EVER (in spite of very difficult questions) that I am serving the one true God, and that his Bible is inspired. At the same time, I am filled with questions about this life I am living, and how to live it WELL. There are so many needs in this world, in this country, in Dallas, in the library I am sitting in right now, that my heart hurts. Just this week I read about forced prostitution in Thailand where girls and boys younger than I had fathomed are sold into the sex trade. Later I read about how 1500 languages in Africa still have not one book of the bible. Then I think about my neighbor, a full time student who has four kids, a wife whose health is faltering, and is unable to find a job... it can get overwhelming...
"Only one life, twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last." My friend Bill prefers to say "in" Christ, and I think I like his revision. My heart breaks for the people in need around me, and I commit my life to loving others as best as I know how, but always, ALWAYS for the sake of, and IN, Christ. God did not create me to run around like a chicken with my head cut off "meeting needs." He created me to LOVE Him, and to love others. I cannot do the latter when I neglect the first, and furthermore, there is no joy in it.
I heard someone once say, "The only Christian leader I know of who didn't have a 'gottago gottago gotta save the world' Messiah complex was, in fact, The Messiah!" Jesus rested. He talked, he had relationships. He went away by himself for awhile. He did not life a frantic life. But lest we read this and use it as an excuse for "selfishness," let's remember his sacrifice. He created the world, and then entered into it as a man. He knit people together, and they crucified him. No, Jesus did not live a frantic life. But he did lead a life of loving sacrifice. Oh, how I long for my life to look like his! For today, the only thing I know is I must spend time with him, and pray as I try to love others well.
Please pray for me as I look for direction and guidance, and as I seek to put Christ first in all I do. Pray for yourself too! Also, please look up around you, at the woman in the checkout line in the grocery store, at your neighbor, at your children. What needs to they have? Could God be calling you to serve them by helping to meet them? Oh, how I love Jesus! If you know him, I pray you walk closely with him today. If you don't, please email or call me and we can talk, or ask someone you think might know.
I'm sorry for this being a bit preachy! It was more like "thoughts" than an update. But whatever!
May God be glorified in all we say and do!
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
A New Way of Updating
Beloved Family and Friends,
In my ideal world, I would be able to sit with each of you, a bible, and a cup of coffee, and talk with you about what God has been doing in my life, as well as listen to what God has been doing in yours. But I am forced to give up that little fantasy, and for now I have decided to make use of technology, and update you all sporadically via posting on the web. I will still continue the once every couple of months emails, but will hopefully put up more stories of what God is doing, as well as prayer requests.
I don't like it, not one bit. Virtual communication is not my thing. But phones are difficult too. YOU, on the other hand, are important, so if this honors God and blesses you, then I'll keep it up. Hopefully it will do both.
I hope to hear from you all soon!
Abby Jane
In my ideal world, I would be able to sit with each of you, a bible, and a cup of coffee, and talk with you about what God has been doing in my life, as well as listen to what God has been doing in yours. But I am forced to give up that little fantasy, and for now I have decided to make use of technology, and update you all sporadically via posting on the web. I will still continue the once every couple of months emails, but will hopefully put up more stories of what God is doing, as well as prayer requests.
I don't like it, not one bit. Virtual communication is not my thing. But phones are difficult too. YOU, on the other hand, are important, so if this honors God and blesses you, then I'll keep it up. Hopefully it will do both.
I hope to hear from you all soon!
Abby Jane
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