Weekend

This weekend was nothing short of amazing. I was so worried about a number of different things and God gave me an indescribeable amount of peace about all that was going on. I was so worried about disapproval and stress and not having time for papers, hiking, Scriptural meditation, sleeping, relaxation, reading, etc. The weekend was just long enough and I'm glad to be back home. My prayer is that I would not become complacent in this position of God being just my Comforter and Provider. I need to be broken, convicted and changed.

Disappointment

Sooo...this semester has definitely not gone the way I envisioned it. I am probably going to lose a bigscholarship and almost all my classes are in no way what I thought they would be. My theology class seeoms to drag on endlessly and New Testament is just as boring. I really expected a lot more from my Theology class and continue to be amazed at how basic that class is. My World Civ class is possible the most boring class ever...even worse than Christian Ministry...yeah.



The highlight of my semester by far has bene my misisons class. I did not have a clue there was so much complexity to missions. Strategies, Mobilizing, Training, Logistics, Maintaining, Linguistics...wow. Plus, it's where I met Rachel. She's pretty cool, I guess. Haha

The Jesus Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God
Have mercy on me, a sinner.

This prayer is very short and simple but can do wonders for our prayer lives. This is a prayer of repitition. It takes some time to really experience the shalom (peace-ish) that only God can provide. A quiet place is a MUST. Just let the words seep into every part of your life and let this prayer be the true cry of your heart. You can also pattern your breathing after this prayer for a more peaceful and centering overall experience.

(breate in) Lord Jesus Christ
(breathe out) Son of God
(breathe in) Have mercy on me
(breathe out) a sinner

This prayer is amazing and so encouraging especially if you think you don't hav etime to pray...Give it a try!

Wow

"Where there is pain, let there be grace
Where there is suffering, bring serenity
For those afraid, help them be brave
Where there is misery, let us bring them relief
Surely we can Change
Surely we can change something

I don't know what to do with a love like that.
I don't know how to be a love like that."

- David Crowder, "Surely we can Change"
- The Remedy

Velvet Elvis - Movement Two - "Yoke"

In our small group time on Wednesdays, our high school guys have been going through Velvet Elvis, a book by Rob Bell that re=examines the Chriistian faith from all angles. In the second chapter, Bell introduces a fresh insight on the relevancy of teh Bible in modern times. He accurately points out that the Bible is more than ancient stories from ancient times that don't pertain to modern issues that are occuring in today's society. The Bible is a book filled with accounts of God working through people who are passionate and desperately hungry to experience the Almighty God.

Bell also presents the view that we are the characters in the Bible as much as the actual characters are. The amazing, fantasmical fact about the Bible is not that the stories happened, it's that they actually happen. We all face the same decision as Adam and Eve did and just like them, we choose to partake from the forbidden fruit, whatever that may be for each of us. The point is that the Bible is a collection of Scriptures that are alive and happening today. They are still pertinent in today's culture just as they were in the times they were written.

The thing that stuck out to me the most out of the second chapter was towards the end of the chapter. Bell is writing about a group of rabbis in ancient times. He describes the mixed feeling of confusion and hope that they feel when they read a Scripture they cannot even come close to understanding. The rabbi is confused because he doesn't understand this important part of God's word but he also has hope because he knows that God will reveal to him the true meaning of this particular passage. Then teh rabbi would say a prayer that would go something like this, "Thank you God that, at some time in the future, the lights are going to come on for me." God is good.

Spiritual Prayer Journal

In my quest to pray for more than just physical healing for the ones I love, I have decided to start a spiritual healing journal. Each new entry will feature a detailed situation that requires many prayers for many different things. Some will be for a renewal of desire for Christ. Some will be for a removal of spiritual apathy. Many, many others will exist as well. Since I remeber and learn largely from writing stuff down, I think this will help my personal prayer life immensely so...hear goes.

This amazingly humble lady Janet that I work with takes care of her Mom, Severina Manglapus. Severina is very old and has lived her life to the fullest. She is near death and grows weaker each day. Janet takes care of her mom during the day and works at night while her husband works days and takes care of Severina while Janet is at work during the night. My prayer is that Severina is thankful to God for the lovely angels He has given her to take care of her throughout the day and into the night. My prayer is that Janet and her husband will be given the spiritual strength needed to take care of Severina without growing tired or weary. My prayer is that this strengthens their marriage instead of placing a large burden on it. My prayer is that God will continue to be glorified in this situation as He already has. Janet is a perfect example of what the love of Jesus Christ looks like, lived out completely everyday. My prayer is that when Severina does pass over and goes to be with her Lord and Savior that Janet and her husband seek spiritual strength first from God and then from each other. My prayer is that when this sad day comes that Janet will continue to have the heart of a slave with everyone she comes into contact with. My prayer is that Janet continues to show me what Christ looks like everytime I come into contact with her.

World Religions - Part 1 - Islam

Tonight we started a 5-week series on world religions. These religions do not all parallel Christianity but we can learn and develop our faith more fully from learning about these other religions.

Tonight was Islam and it is scary how many parallels exist between Islam and Christianity. I learned so much tonight. Not to brag, but I never did stereotype Muslims as "terrorists" but tonight did clear up many questions I had about these ultimately devoted people.

In Christianity, we have a very positive outlook on our lives, especially from a spiritual aspect. We are "saved" from the fires of hell and more importantly, eternal separation from God. We are a new creation in Him. The atoning blood of Christ forgives all sins. All of these things add to the overall positive outlook on our Christian lives.

Islam actually directly contrasts with this view. It is a very negative outlook on the actions of Muslims. Muslims focus on not necessarily beliefs as much as correcting the wrongs committed in their never-ending pursuit to worship Allah. This is the concept behind "jihad." Jihad means "struggle." It is commonly mistaken for a "holy war" and although there is some aspect of holy war in the Lesser Jihad Greater Jihad is where Christians could draw something.

This Jihad is the inner struggle one has with his/her sins. It is not a guilt trip but more like a permanent attitude of repentance and mourning over the sins committed.

We as Christians can take 3 major things from the Islamic faith and apply it to our faith to help us grow.

1.) Develop an attitude of respect for God similar to the respect Muslims have for Allah. (Muslims have an immense amount of respect for Allah. Their attitude is one of complete reverence and humbleness.)

2.) Consistently engage in jihad inside ourselves as well as with God. (Through this wrestling with ourselves and with God we will ultimately grow closer to Him and develop our own faith more and more.)

3.) Develop a prayer life as dedicated as Muslims. (They stop everything they are doing, no matter what it is, and pray to Allah 5 times a day.)

A Heart to Love

Lately I have been dealing with some problems with letting stuff go and forgiving people. This week especially, God has really been giving me a heart to forgive, a heart to let go, and a heart to truly love those who have hurt me in the past. I am so thankful for this gift from God and I hope my heart to love others is but 1/2 the heart I have to love Him. I am finding that it is so much easier to show the love of Christ to people who used to get so far under my skin now than a month ago.

I believe that God has changed me for a purpose and this purpose is to show the love of Jesus Christ to everyone I encounter everywhere I go. My desire is for people to look at me and see my Savior. I want them to see a life of humility, a life of service, a life of compassion, and a life of love. I want them to see the life of who Jesus was and who He is for me everyday.