Monday, April 30, 2012

The Life of a Fisherman


If you don’t become a reconciler of the lost, you will become an evaluator of the saved.

There is something inherent in our nature that wants to see people get right with God.

And if we don’t direct it at the lost, we will direct it at the saved.

Then instead of pursuing sinners, we will spend our time policing the saints.

All of us have been called to be “Fishers of Men”, but when those who are called to fish don’t fish,

They fight.

When energy that was meant to be used outside the church is used inside the church,

The result is explosive.

Instead of becoming reachers of the lost, we become critics of the saved.

Instead of extending helping hands, we point accusing fingers.

Instead of helping the hurting, we hurt the helpers.

And sadly, the lost go unreached, they poor go unfed, and the confused go unconsoled.

But, when those who are called to fish, FISH – they flourish.

Souls are reached, lives are changed, and the world is impacted.

~ Jim Newsom ~
This was observed hanging on the wall of an Amish/Mennonite Community Room.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

God ADDS to and He MULTIPLIES.
He never divides, or takes away. 
Are we multiplying for God, or dividing for Satan?
Let's focus on the plusses.  The positives.
Let's be thankful for what God has given us.  No matter how big or how minute.
Let's be humbled in His presence.
Let's remember to pray for others.
And let's remember the commandments the Lord has given us:
To love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as our self.

I want to challenge you:
This week, with every person you talk to, do this: picture that person's face as Jesus'. 
If you picture that person as Jesus, you'll speak kind, loving, encouraging words to them. 
Gone will be the anger, the malice, the envy, and all the evil.
Let's keep our focus on Jesus Christ our Lord!

Saturday, April 21, 2012

one

We are just one beat, ONE BEAT away from eternity.
Am I ready?
Are YOU?

Friday, April 6, 2012

Price Paid

  3He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
We, as carnal men reject Christ.  We run from Him, and hide our faces from Him. We look away from Him.

4Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
He is the one who suffered for our sakes.  He bore our cross in our stead.

5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
HE was wounded, because of ME.  HE was bruised because I sinned.  But by HIM and His suffering, we are HEALED.

6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
We have ALL sinned.  We have all walked away from God and gone our own way.  But we have been given the chance to change our ways and walk towards Him, because Jesus has borne our sins. This free gift is here for EVERYONE.

7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
He went through the pain without complaining.  He willfully and meekly paid the price for our sins. 


The price has been paid for you, and for me.  Jesus, the perfect man left His wonderful home in heaven, came here to this earth to walk as a man, and to bring us this FREE gift of salvation.  We are not worthy of His love but yet He was willing.  He loved each one of us enough to suffer and die for us.  He suffered a death that we cannot even begin to compare to any suffering here on this earth. And He did it personally for each and every one of us who have lived, are living, and will live.

IF you have not taken this free gift, come to the cross. 

 Jesus is hanging there for YOU.
   

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

How Great Is Our God

If you have not watched, you MUST. (It's not a choice...WATCH IT!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAzCP8SEKwc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

And to think, I woke up this morning worrying about how I was going to make it through my day. 
God is my strength.  He is my power.  He is huge! The cross is what holds me together, literally and figuratively.
I am nothing.  I am so minute, so powerless, so minuscule, but yet God cares for ME.  He knows me BETTER than I know myself.  And He loves me, really, truly LOVES ME, as well as each one of YOU.
How GREAT our God IS! Let us PRAISE Him!

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Lord willing...

I will be starting the nursing program in August along with my close friend, Courtney!  So thankful for God's nearness throughout the past year of college and for His constant assurance that this is His will for me at the present.  Hopefully I can feel the same a year from now!  :)

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Alabama

Last week I had the privilage to go on a work team to help rebuild homes destroyed in the tornados last April.  It was a blessing to be able to be a part of God's work in AL, and to build and renew many relationships.  There's just something about going away for a week and giving to others that can renew a spirit.  It was much needed in my life and I'm so thankful to have had the opportunity. 

Our theme verse for the week was Psalms 51:10 "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."
Our Group for the week.  Hope we didn't add too much spice to it!
Enjoyed getting to meet several new people, especially the older couples!

Saturday night the IL girls (minus Tess) spent the night in Athens...

At the camp Monday morn.  Every monring we had to pack our lunch for the day before breakfast.  Let's just say we never went hungry! (Even those who packed their lunch in the wrong cooler!)
Our first & second day adventure...Sanding drywall by hand!

Once sanding was done and the walls were wiped down we began the process of painting which took the rest of the week. 
I can assure you this was not the reason it took us all week to accoplish the painting! ;)

Funny how the men ate in the shade....
and the women, in the sun!

The destroyed home of the lady who's house I worked on all week.
Took a short hike through the woods to a cliff...the picture doesn't do justice!

Tuesday night we had the privilage to be a part of the dedication ceremony for all of the families whose homes we worked on.  It was a very emotional and enspiring evening.  God was definitely with us!

Sorry for the blurry pict, but I wanted to show you how good we ate...never went hungry thanks to Sparky's excellant wife!

Thursday the flooring crew came in and laid the floor...notice the completely painted walls! 
It was really neat to see the transformation we made inside the house in a few short days.  That's what I call--teamwork!

All us girls (Minus Steph and Rach...)

It's hard to completely capture the week and express it to others fully.  Pictures just don't do justice.  One thing I can say for sure is that it was a blessing for each one of us and a beautiful chance and reminder to let our lights shine for God.  To Him be the Glory and Praise!