Projects

Finishing…this part of my tag line is a bit ambiguous, but it is a goal God has given me. I am that person who starts things, but never gets to the end of it. Right now, if you walked into my house, you would see a plethora of partial projects. For me, one thing just leads into another and nothing seems to get done. God keeps encouraging me to be a hostess and to make my home a place of rest welcoming those who need to come, but it just doesn’t seem possible at the moment. This weekend I really need to do a few things that will lead me in that direction, but I am just not sure that I will actually follow through. I want to desperately get our office cleaned out, re-organized and weeded out. My attachment to “things” is so great that this is a difficult thing for me under the best of circumstances. I think this is all one of the struggles that many women face, but to be ready for the next thing God has for me getting my house under control is the number one priority!

That is such a parallel to what we do in our spiritual lives as well. I find that often I hoard and hide the emotional and spiritual “junk” and keep people out of the “house”, so that they don’t see all the “junk”. It is time for some things to be cleaned not only out of my closets, but out of my life as well!

Father, You are a God of Order and of simplicity. Your plan for us is so simple. Help me to find a way to make my life a reflection of that from ridding it of the spiritual and physical junk to making me warm and inviting as You are. Lord, take the gossip, bitterness, and thoughts that I hide in the closet of my heart and empty them leaving only wisdom, love and compassion behind! You can do this Lord, and only You can do it! I love You and open the doors for Your cleansing to come! Amen.

Focus for Fishing

Did you know that there is a worldwide movement that is creeping in to become the largest movement in the world very soon? This movement has often been in the news with the violent faction being featured. Only about 15% of those in this movement are actually violent toward those of us that walk with Jesus. The rest are consistently following the plan of their leaders to quietly take over the majority of the world without any fighting to do it. This movement is that of Islam. By giving birth to many children and immigrating into all the corners of the world, we will see a great shift in the majority of the world population being followers of this movement.

How do we as Christians combat this? Or can we? Like so many others in our world, the followers of Islam, or Muslims, have an emptiness in them that can only be filled with a relationship with Jesus Christ. The problem is that though this emptiness exists, they are well taught to shot holes in our faith and most Christians are unequipped to defend the faith in the way that they ask. I am one of those Christians. I have always thought that I could defend my faith well, but when I was asked some of the questions that these people will ask to cause me to be lost I found that I was. How do you prove that Jesus is the Son of God and that He truly raised from the dead? How do you intellectually answer how we know that Jesus is the only way to Heaven? My heart hurts because it has always been the focus of my Christian walk. My mind doesn't really know what to do with it all because it really hasn't been the focus of my Christian walk. It is time for that to change!

Lord, would You give me the diligence to study and know why I believe what I do and have the ability to explain this to someone in a solid way? Would You use me to reach others for you? Would You, by Your grace fill me with wisdom beyond my years, so that You alone may be glorified?

Beginnings

I am beginning this blog because I have been starting to think alot about the things that God is teaching me. I just want a place to reflect on those things. Lately, God has been challenging me about my lack of sharing Jesus with others. I have been challenged through the study of Luke that I am doing with a friend, as well as the books I am reading. The Last Jihad series by Joel Rosenberg has shown me how soon Jesus could return and the importance of sharing lilfe with those around me. I am also reading One Thing You Can't Do in Heaven by Mark Cahill. He is so passionate about talking to everyone that crosses his path about the only way to heaven that he even takes vacations to strategic locations to put himself near many who don't believe so that he will have more opportunities to share. I want to have this same kind of passion! I want to work Jesus into every conversation I have.

When I lived in China, I lived to make every moment count for eternity, but I have gotten comfortable in my life now and have forgotten the urgency of reaching others for Christ. Why is this? Is it because I don't care? I don't think so. Is it because I don't feel the urgency? Probably somewhat. I think mostly it is because I have not put myself in the path of unbelievers much. I need to seek out those unbelievers!

God, show me how to be bold when I have those moments to speak to unbelievers. Help me see the opportunities You lay out for me and to seek out those who don't know you and share Your loving plan for their lives.