#savesaeed

Alright so today I come to you all with one simple request:

In July of 2012, a Christian pastor named Saeed Abedini left the United States for what was supposed to be several weeks as he continued his efforts to establish an orphanage in Rasht, Iran. As he was about to return home, he was pulled off of a bus by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and placed under house arrest. He remained under house arrest until September, when he was taken without warning to one of Iran’s most notorious prisons, where he has now been imprisoned for 236 days. He has broken no law, but has been charged for peacefully gathering with other Christians, a crime for which he has been sentenced to eight years in prison. For the last eight months, he has suffered beatings, threats, and torturous interrogations as Iranian authorities try to get him to renounce his faith in Jesus Christ. Pastor Saeed has stated in a letter from prison that they will never get this from him, and has described the joy that he has experienced as God gives him strength even through these intense sufferings. His wife, Naghmeh, remains in the United States with their two children and has invited churches around the nation to take a united stand in prayer and to call on God for his release.

On MAY 19, 2013, it is being asked that we unite together as brothers and sisters in Christ and pray for Pastor Saeed.  It is requested that we invite churches we know and may attend to share the story of Saeed with the congregation, and to pray ferverently for our dear brother. 

Promote awareness of Pastor Saeed's situation by tagging #savesaeed and by signing the petition @ www.savesaeed.org

You can write him a letter for his upcoming birthday through the website as well, which is encouraged! 

Not long ago, Pastor Saeed wrote a letter for us, the link to watch the video will be included at the bottom of this post. 

Guys, this is very close to home for me, as I go to school with his sister, so I see the effect this has on a loving, devoted family.   He is more than just a Pastor that is imprisoned.  He is a husband, a father, a nephew, a brother.  I'm asking that you take a moment to think about what you would do if this were to happen to one of your loved ones, or even to you. 

Please join in the effort and please lift up prayers with the rest of the world as we intercede on the behalf of Saeed Abedini. 

God bless, and blog soon

Youtube Video - Letter from Saeed:

http://youtu.be/cfBeRICdCcU

From My View

So I thought it'd be cool to share with you guys some homework that I had to do for college, it was super fun to do so I thought you might like to hear it!   To explain it, I had to pick any story from the Bible and tell it from the point of view of someone else in the story, someone who wasn't the main characters.  I encourage you to try this sometime, it's really fun and gives you a new perspective on the story! I wouldn't recommend doing this a lot, but once in awhile it's fun to try.   I hope you enjoy! 

Vantage Point Method

STORY - The Woman (John 8:1-11) 
PERSPECTIVE – A Pharisee

I arose early in the morning with many thoughts in my head, one of which was “today is the day!”. Today is the day we finally catch this man Jesus in a trap, for he certainly cannot sweet talk his way out of this one. It's quite the plan we devised if I might say, to set it up so that we might catch her in order to accuse Jesus. I have to be honest with myself though, I felt a moment of remorse for having set her up for this, knowing full well it could result in her death. But the satisfaction I would have from seeing Jesus flounder in doctrine would make the scheming worth it. So I gathered with the other Pharisees and Scribes and we, in a group, brought the woman before Jesus, and waited for him to answer whether she ought to be stoned or let free, either one breaking some form of the law. As I'm standing there smirking to myself, I see the man Jesus stoop down and begin to scribble in the sand. My curiosity piques and ignoring the crying woman in the middle of the circle I step closer in order to see what he is writing. Confusion clouds my brain as I see my Pharisee brother Matthan's name being written down beside the words “stole from widow”. I look up in time to see Matthan turn around and disappear, along with 3 other men. I'm not exactly sure what's going on, but I catch on to the pattern taking place, and I realize that whatever Jesus is writing is starting from the oldest and headed down to the youngest of the group, which means I will be next. I have no idea how he knows such deep secrets of ours, but it scares me, and our master plan is now being ruined (once again) by this man. How infuriating. All of a sudden I see my name, and then my deepest secret is revealed before those who are left standing there. In my embarrassment I turn to leave, still not sure how he knew these things. How could a mere man read inside the deepest parts of our souls? Could it be this man Jesus was not so mere mortal after all? I immediately attempt to push that thought out from my mind, but the question nags. Is Jesus who he actually says he is, or is he as us Pharisees claim, simply a man with inexplicable power? I will probably never know the answers to those questions, but I can say with certainty that they will continue to haunt me until I see him dead. After what happened today, I realize Jesus is harder to trap than we thought, and next time, we will have to get craftier. Until then, my mind continues to ponder, against my will, who is this man?





God bless, and blog soon 

Crunch Time

Hey ya'll!!  I have a prayer request for you all today, I'm just simply asking that as I get prepared for my midterms that you would please ask the Lord to bring things back to my remembrance.   I'm feeling rather pressured, stressed, and inadequate.  So I would appreciate all the prayer warriors out there to just lift me up real quick this next week when you think of it!!

Thanks you guys,


God bless, and blog soon (promise, I will blog for real soon)

In God We Trust

The words "In God We Trust" surround us as Americans, our very country was built on this foundation.  But sadly has become a sort of quote to most people, instead of a nugget of truth we can live our lives according to.  I know for me, it is easy to throw the words out of my mouth, but then hours (or even minutes) later start worrying about my next meal, or my financial situation. 

Oh me of little faith.  It says in Luke 17:6 So the Lord said,  “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you." 

This verse so clearly jumps out at me, because it makes me evaluate my life.  It isn't how big my faith is, it's the object of my faith!  Jesus is showing me here that my faith could be as small as a MUSTARD seed, and it doesn't matter, all that matters is where I am placing my trust!! Am I placing it in Jesus or in my own supposed power?? 

After talking with a friend tonight about how it feels sometimes like God's will is distant from us, I had a lightbulb moment (and ya'll probably laugh cause it's sorta obvious, I know..) 

Ready? here it is:  when God is delaying in telling us His will, He's asking us to trust Him... whoa.  I know.  It's a simple revelation, but a powerful one.  God spoke to me SO CLEARLY and like bonked me over the head with this concept!  When God isn't showing me His will, that doesn't mean it's because I have to "this this one into my own hands".  Gosh no!  It means that I need to learn how to have faith that it's all gonna work out, that I need to trust that Jesus does know better then me! 

It isn't easy, but I'm growing in this even as I write about it, God is continually showing me ways in which my faith is failing hardcore.  But even though God is showing me that, He's also reminding me of the Grace that He gives me when my faith does fail.... what a God we serve!!!

So in light of what I just wrote, I am going to try to change my thinking habits.  "In God We Trust" is no longer going to be a platitude I spout off when I'm feeling spiritual, but rather a truth that my thoughts will be centered around. 

God bless, and blog soon

Dare to be a Disciple

Disciple: a learner (follower) of Christ.

We all know Matthew 28:19-20 which says: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you; .." This is a very well known verse among believers.

Here's something I didn't really think about or realize: in order to make disciples, you yourself must BE a disciple!! So many in the church in these days are full of "godliness", knowing what to say, when to say it, and where to be. But they aren't really disciples of Christ! Think of it this way....how can I teach you how to swim, if I don't know how to swim? That's illogical! I can't teach you to swim unless I know how to, and it's the same with discipleship. We can't teach others and make disciples if we ourselves aren't first disciples of Christ.

But be warned: it isn't easy to be a disciple of Christ. Rainbows and butterflies aren't present 24/7, we don't live in expensive mansions with a crew of servants, you aren't going to be loved or even liked by everyone. Salvation is free, but Discipleship will cost you everything.
It isn't the most appealing thing to people, but it's the most wonderful thing you could EVER experience. Following Christ will take you places you never thought you could go, will enable you to be bold, will help you do things you never thought possible. But more than all of that, you get to be intimate with JESUS! You get to spend time with Him! Sweet, precious time with the One who created you then died for you then rose again for you.

Okay, and yet we don't want to sacrifice anything for His sake? Sounds selfish to me. If someone jumped in front of a car for me, sacrificed themselves, but the doctors were able to revive them..yeah you're right, I'd probably ignore that person too. I'd probably pretend it didn't happen, and I definitely wouldn't owe them anything.

Right? WRONG! Any person in their right mind wouldn't do those things I mentioned; we'd talk to that person right? Thank them for what they did, see how we can repay them, right? You see, with Jesus, we owe Him everything. But He washes it away, and only asks that we do one thing: follow Him.

Take up your cross, and follow Him daily (Mark 8:34). Become a Christ learner, a Christ follower, THEN obey the Matthew 28 command: go into the world and make more.

Do you Dare to be a Disciple?


God bless, and blog soon

Gospel Genealogy

Genesis Chapter 5 Genealogy

             Hebrew                    English

Adam	Man
Seth	Appointed
Enosh	Mortal
Kenan	Sorrow
Mahalalel	The Blessed God
Jared	Shall come down
Enoch	Teaching
Methusaleh	His death shall bring
Lamech	The despairing
Noah	Rest, or comfort

On the left side of the table is the Genealogy list.  The right side ("english") shows the meanings of the names. 

Now get this.....    if you read down the English side of the table, it spells out the Gospel!!!  Try it! 

Man Appointed Mortal Sorrow, The Blessed God Shall Come Down Teaching, His death shall bring the despairing rest/comfort.  

THAT is something man couldn't have created, definitely a work of God as He divinely orchestrated the writing of His Word.  

God bless, and blog soon

Seminary or Cemetery?

 The question often posed is whether you are going to seminary or cemetery.

Seems a tad morbid, doesn't it? Yet the question remains. Are you attending seminary or cemetery? When I first heard this question asked (or often just simply stated as a warning) I laughed it off and simply ignored it, not understanding. But now being enrolled in a theology school, I understand exactly where those critics who said such things were coming from. Let me explain...

When I first came to school, the excitement and joy were bubbling over inside me! Think about it... I'm taking classes in the BIBLE!!!!! How cool is that?! I get to study my favorite subject all day for 4 months. I couldn't wait to sit down and do homework, I was raring to go classes, I was up early and spending time with Jesus.

Then things got a little crazy... I started getting overwhelmed with homework, my classes seem to drag on, and I can't seem to get enough sleep anymore. Somedays I even wonder if I will get to eat because I'm so busy between school work and my service in the community (it's considered a class you must take, for those of you who don't know why I can't cut that off my schedule). Just at the beginning of the week, I was so excited to get to my serving opportunity Then it turned into just another thing I had to do on my list. That's it. Not as a great opportunity to show God's love, but rather just another chore that I had to get through quickly because I “don't have time for this” and I need to get homework done.

Wow. That's all I can say. Wow.

I can say with conviction that I know exactly where those critics came from in saying “don't go to cemetery”. It's so easy to get caught up in the WORK, that you forget who you're doing the work for! I had forgotten why I was here, what the purpose was for me to be studying the Bible. It's not because it's the “Christian thing to do” to go to Bible college.... it's because it's something I love to do, study God's Word. I love it! But sadly, as of late, my joy has been gone. The joy of homework was replaced with complaining about how “I'll never get this all done in time”, the excitement for classes has been replaced with counting down the minutes on the clock til it's over, and the “Mary-time” with Jesus has been thrown out the window with more sleep taking it's place. What a sad, sad thing to admit. Yet, it's true.

I don't want this post to sound like Bible College is just going to zap your joy. Because that is FAR (hear me... FAR) from the truth! But what I do want this post to be about is honesty, and honestly I have allowed my joy to be zapped because I forgot how FUN it is to just study God's Word, and to spend time with Jesus!!! It's so stinkin fun, I can't stress it enough. I just forgot that in the past week, and all these things turned back into rituals, into excuses to gripe and complain. That's so wrong of me. It's the wrong perspective. Seminary is just that. Seminary. “Cemetery” is for those who did what I did, which was forget the real reason I'm here. I'm here to serve God, to serve people, and to grow closer to my Creator. I'm not here to complain, gripe, and serve myself. I let myself fall into those thoughts and the result was a stressed out me, who didn't have enough time in the day to study God's Word, who didn't have enough time in the day to sit at God's feet in the classes, who didn't have enough time to do community service. Anybody else the problem with that picture?? Please tell me you see how hypocritical that is?

I understand why people said to me “Don't go! It goes from Seminary to Cemetery!”.

I also now understand what type of people they had to be to experience that.. they had to be like me, the person who turns a relationship into a religion, the person who let's the little things turn into opportunities to complain versus opportunities to exalt my Father.

Seminary doesn't have to be Cemetery, and I now realize how wrong I was in my thinking lately! The Joy of the Lord is MY strength, and from now, on I'm going to draw from His well of joy instead of drawing on myself for weak little strength.

I praise the Lord that He took me to the woodshed and said “What in the world do you think you're doing Daughter? I have blessed you in allowing you to devote to my Bible completely for FOUR MONTHS STRAIGHT, and you have the guts to complain that things aren't going your way? You feel dry Daughter? You feel stressed Daughter? You feel angry, you feel sad, you feel spent Daughter? Well, have you even tried going on a walk with Me to ask Me to help? Or were you going to let it continue until you are so joyless you're dead?”

Don't lose the Joy of the Lord, it's one of the best things God gives us. I realize that now. I realize I can't finish Bible College without Him, because I have not the strength. I will die. With Him though, I'm triumphant and I can say to those critical people

“You went about it the wrong way! You died in Seminary, but not because of constant Bible studies. You died in Seminary because you forgot the most important part of Seminary... JESUS.”

God bless, and blog soon

Skim the Brim

Ask yourself this:  "Self, am I skimming and glancing over the Word of God? Or am I READING?"


 Just because I'm taking in a lot of information and quickly getting through the book or passage doesn't mean I'm reading it. I'm looking with my eyes but I'm not always listening with my heart, it and my mind is usually somewhere else. Such as my to-do list.

What's the point of reading if I'm not going to retain and understand any of it? Is it for bragging rights, for prideful thoughts? Prideful thoughts are in vain and it doesn't matter if I read 5 verses or if I read 5 chapters, what matters is if I'm truly getting the full intent of it, or if I'm reading to read.
“You will never get comfort to your soul out of what you do not understand, nor find guidance for your life out of what you do not comprehend;”1

Reading the Word is like spiritual food time, so ask the Lord to bless your time “eating” it before hand, and ask also for alertness while you are reading. No sleeping!

Often times the things hidden in Scriptures are not so that we can't understand them, it's so that those who are diligent and willing to seek and pry and listen, can know them after some studying. We don't always get to know everything right away, Jesus wants us to use our minds and ask Him questions, and really look for answers, so that it isn't spoon fed but it is something we have searched for and learned.
Praying for wisdom is like asking the author of the book to share some insight on what they really meant when it was written. Oftentimes I can get so confused with the text that instead of asking the Holy Spirit for His help in understanding, I instead just skim over it, overlook it, and move on in attempts to understand the next verse. That's so wrong, I should be asking the Holy Spirit for His help, the text is there for us to learn from, if I'm just skipping over something because I don't get it, then I'm not learning anything.
There are amazing nuggets of truth & spiritual applications hidden in the History texts...if only you look. You must have the Holy Spirit there with you, and you must have a desire to know it. I know I haven't been very good at all about that, skipping over passages that “I've read a million times” and thinking to myself “do I really need to read about how the temple was built...again....?” when in reality that is such a poor view of the Word of God! How sad I do that.

Jesus Christ is there if I'm willing to look, but I must be willing to search, to dig, because He is worth it. I want to grow strong in the Lord, I want to be a healthy christian. Not only a healthy christian though, but someone who LOVES Jesus, who can't get enough of Jesus. I will get into that with a future post... I have some interesting insight from someone that I would like to share with you all about obsessing over Jesus! Very cool and I look forward to writing it! 


I hope you guys take the above words and ask yourself questions, like really ask God to look into your heart to see if all those things apply to your life. It's cool and will change your thinking, how you view the Lord, and how you treat God's Word. 

God bless, and blog soon

1 C.H. Spurgeon 

College Update

Hey everyone!!

So I wanted to give you all an update to just say how much I seriously love it at college. It's like nothing I've ever experienced....there are christians & Christ lovers EVERYWHERE! Wherever I go, I run into people who are just so sweet and loving and ready to meet you. God's Spirit really has fallen over this place because these are about the nicest people I've ever met. I'm incredibly blessed to be here.

Want to hear my classes?

• How to Study the Bible
• Genesis 
• Cults & World Religions 
• 1 & 2 Peter
• Biblical Counseling 
• Apologetics 

I'm SO stoked. These classes are fantastic & I can't wait to dive into them. I have my first day of classes today so if you see this, please pray for me! I could use it ;) 

I'm so excited to share with you guys about what I learn, it's going to be so amazing & I hope I do everything justice in my explanation of things. Bear with me though, sometimes I get so excited I can't think straight ;)  haha, well I'm praying for you all (even though I don't know you) and I'd appreciate your prayers back! 

God bless, and blog soon

En Route!

Hey guys, I'm IN THE AIR!!!

that's right, I'm blogging from the coolest location ever... the air :)

I just wanted to say thank you all for the many prayers that I know were/are still headed my way. Update: my ears didn't hurt once! Praise God right?!  He hears your prayers guys!!!

I can't wait to update you all later once I'm on the ground, I'll let you know more about how cool this journey is. Love you all bloggies!

God bless, and blog soon

T-minus 6 days

Hey there bloggies! Today starts the 6 day countdown until my departure for Bible College...

CrAzY!!!!!!!!

I have fasted and prayed to see if this is God's will for me, and the answer was YES, I should go. So, I'm going! I don't know anyone out there, (except for 2 family members I have not met about an hour away in either direction) and I don't know my roomies, my classes, my schedule, nothing.

*yikes*

But I know that God will use this time for me to grow in Him, and learn new things, including His will for my life!! I'm constantly reminded during this preparation to leave that God reveals His will to us like a lantern, a.k.a NOT a flashlight!! We only get one step at a time :) Patience is something I am learning, and learning fast.

(was that ironic? I can't really decide)

Anyways, I am looking forward to sharing my experiences with you all as I journey, and I will blog lots while I'm out there about the stuff I'm learning, the people I'm meeting, the things I'm doing, the places I'm going, the food I'm eating, and the clothes I'm wearing (duh, I had to include fashion somewhere!).

Prayers would be GREATLY appreciated as I prepare to leave my home town and the people I have known for my entire life to go someplace totally alien. Thank you because I know you will pray!❤

God bless, and blog soon

Trip Devos: Luke

(these posts are simply taken from my notes written during the missions trip I went on. Short & simple).

2 Timothy 2:1-3

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

This really spoke to me in these 2 concepts:

• The Lord privileged to be able to serve Him & others. 
• The grace God gave us, we have to show to others

              ~ Especially on the job site, grace is very much the key to keeping peace with fellow workers. 

We must endure hardship, it's with Christ and for others. 

Don't let Satan get into your mind during these hardships. 

*endure hardship and be ready to preach the Word*

Think on it! 

God bless, and blog soon

Trip Devos: Travis

(these posts are simply taken from my notes written during the missions trip I went on. Short & simple).

Colossians 3:23-25;  4:2-6*


And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.


*Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always bewith grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

This really spoke to me in these 4 concepts:

• We don't always have control over our situations but whatever we do, do it heartily to the Lord. 
• Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Speak what God puts in your heart, not what you put there. 
• Hesitation in speaking the Gospel could result in tragedy for the other person. We might be the only people who ever tells them about the Good News. 
• Make every conversation meaningful! Take it as an opportunity to plant a seed. 

Think on it! 

God bless, and blog soon

Trip Devos: Justin

(these posts are simply taken from my notes written during the missions trip I went on. Short & simple).

1 Corinthians 2:1-5


And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.


This really spoke to me in these 3 concepts: 

• We have to allow the Spirit to work through us, or we will be doing it on our own. 
• We didn't come to New Jersey (or wherever you go) with persuasive words, we came to do a good work. Though we may not see the fruit, God will (vs 4) 
• If you think you're at the top of your game, who can teach you anything?? Don't think of yourself too highly!! 

Think on it! 

God bless, and blog soon

Trip Devos: Tom

(these posts are simply taken from my notes written during the missions trip I went on. Short & simple).

Luke 6:27-36

“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the onecheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold yourtunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

“But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful

This really spoke to me in these 4 concepts:

• We often want to fight back and let our flesh rule but Jesus didn't do that.
• (vs 30) God blesses us everyday, how could we not give back blessings? 
• We have to tell those we love the absolute truth about the Gospel.  Here's the challenge: God called us to love everyone, right? 
• (vs 35) He is KIND to the unthankful! 

Think on it! 

God bless, and blog soon

Trip Devos: Storm

(these posts are simply taken from my notes written during the missions trip I went on. Short & simple). 


Luke 10:25-37

And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’[a] and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’
28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed,[c] he took out two denarii, gavethem to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”

37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”




This really spoke to me in these 4 concepts:

• We are called to be neighbors to people, and show mercy & love. 
• Though the Samaritan was a reject among society, he had compassion. 
• Don't get so "busy" that you walk on by. 
• The thieves well represent the world. It strips us, beats us, and leaves us for dead. Why do we still try to dabble in it??? 

Think on it! 


God bless & blog soon

Trip Devos: My Dad!

(these posts are simply taken from my notes written during the missions trip I went on. Short & simple).




Matthew 5:13-16

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 

Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

This really spoke to me in these 2 concepts:

• We have to allow the aroma of Christ to be our smell. When we are out and about serving, we want to smell like Christ and not like ourselves.  Represent well. 
• We have the opportunity to take care of people in the emotional/spiritual part of their lives, NOT just the physical aspect. 

Think on it! 

God bless, and blog soon

Calvary Chapel Relief Work

Hey everyone, I know it's been awhile since I've posted but that's because...... I WENT ON MY FIRST MISSION TRIP!!!   That's right, 11 people and I from my home church followed God's leading to New Jersey, where Super Storm Sandy destroyed hundreds of people's homes last October.
   We had an awesome time serving the Lord, growing closer to each other, and more importantly growing closer to our Savior!

  Days 1-3 consisted of fully insulating, cleaning, and re-flooring a fellow believers home which had been destroyed.
   Day 4 consisted of the opposite: we tore out EVERYTHING from a house...sheetrock, insulation, floorboards, tile, bathroom...they had it, we gutted it.   It was sad to see, honestly. Especially since they weren't saved.      Until later.... :)

IT WAS SO COOL!!!!!  The homeowners accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior after witnessing how our teams worked together, loved God, loved each other, and just blessed them by helping them.
How awesome is that? Please pray for Edward and Nancy, and welcome them to the Kingdom of Heaven. :) I can't stop smiling and praising Jesus!!!   I had the privilege to hand Nancy a Bible, and that was so special. The look in her eyes made the biting cold, the dirty messes, the terrible smells, and the exhaustion all worth it.  God is good all the time huh?


Over the next few days I'm going to be posting the things God taught me as we did devotions as a group every day. I hope you learn from them as much as I did.

Sorry if this post is a tad bit scattered but I get so excited thinking about what happened this past week and my thoughts get all jumbled....haha I hope you can decode everything enough to see the joy filling my life from this trip.


God bless and blog soon