And God Said No

I asked God to take away my pride,
And God said, "No."
He said it was not for Him to take away,
But for me to give up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole,
And God said, "No."
He said her spirit is,
While her body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience,
And God said, "No."
He said patience is a by-product of tribulation.
It isn't granted, it is earned.

I asked God to give me happiness,
And God said, "No."
He said He gives blessings,
Happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare me pain,
And God said, "No."
He said, "Suffering draws you apart from
Worldly cares and brings you closer to Me."

I asked God to make my spirit grow,
And God said, "No."
He said I must grow on my own,
But He will prune me to make it fruitful.

I asked God if He loved me,
and God said, "Yes."
He gave me His only Son, who died for me.
And I will be in Heaven someday
Because....I believe.

I asked God to help me love others
As much as He loves me,
And God said,
"Ah finally, you have the idea."

Claudia Minden Welsz

Faith

I was really blessed by the message at youth Bible study last night on faith (Hebrews 11). We didn't even get through half the chapter, but lots of good discussion.
Some questions were:
1. What is faith?
2. What does it do?
3. What are some practical things we can apply to our lives?

Here are just a few things we came up with:

• "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
• Faith gives victory.
• Faith means complete sacrifice.
  
• Faith is not believing that God can. Faith is knowing that He will.
• Faith creates a fear of God.
• Faith leaves no room for doubt.
• Faith believes that God will provide for what He asks us to do.
• Faith moves us and takes us higher.
• Faith gives strength.
• Faith realizes that not everything God asks us to do will be logical or make sense.

I would love to keep going but I have a research project to do tonight yet.

God bless!

Chosen Vessel

The Master was searching for a vessel to use;
On the shelf there were many which one would He choose?

"Take me, cried the gold one I'm shiny and bright,
I'm of great value and I do things just right.

My beauty and luster will outshine the rest
And for someone like you, Master, gold would be the best!"

The Master passed on with no word at all;
He looked at a silver urn, narrow and tall;

"I'll serve you, dear Master, I'll pour out your wine
And I'll be at your table whenever you dine,

My lines are so graceful, my carvings so true,
And my silver will always compliment you."

Unheeding the Master passed on to the brass,
It was wide mouthed and shallow, and polished like glass.

"Here! Here!" cried the vessel, I know I will do.
Place me on your table for all men to view."

"Look at me", called the goblet of crystal so clear.
"My transparency shows my contents so dear,

Though fragile am I,I will serve you with pride,
And I'm sure I'll be happy in your home to abide."

The Master came next to a vessel of wood,
Polished and carved, it solidly stood.

"You may use me, dear Master", the wooden bowl said.
"But I'd rather you used me for fruit, not for bread!"

Then the Master looked down and saw a vessel of clay,
Empty and broken it helplessly lay.

No hope had the vessel that the master might choose,
To cleanse and make whole, to fill and to use.

Ah! This is the vessel I've been hoping to find,
I will mend and use it and make it all mine.

I need not the vessel with pride of itself;
Nor the one who is narrow to sit on the shelf;

Nor the one who is big mouthed and shallow and loud;
Nor one who displays his contents so proud;

Nor the one who thinks he can do all things just right;
But this plain earthy vessel filled with my power and might

Then gently He lifted the vessel of clay.
Mended and cleansed it and filled it that day.

Spoke to it kindly "There's work you must do.
Just pour out to others as I pour into you."

Author Unknown

Quick Update

Hey everyone! It's been a busy non-stop week, but I have progressed well with my schoolwork. Praise God! God is bringing about many changes and challenges in my life and I have a feeling that the next few weeks aren't going to be so easy. Please pray for me that I would rest in Jesus, be obedient to Him, and take each and every challenge up as a learning opportunity. That I may remain strong and be thankful for whatever comes my way.

A Precious Promise

Psalm 1:2,3
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

As I was meditating on these verses today, I realized how beautiful this really is. How much do you really delight in God's law or how much do you meditate on it? I see how important it really is and how great the reward really is; to be like this tree would be so marvelous. And when I think about this tree planted by the waters, it's constantly soaking up water, it's constantly refreshed and it's leaves are always crisp. If we soak up God's law like a tree does water, we too shall be refreshed and alive. We will not wither as soon as a dry spell comes along. We will bring forth much fruit, grow, and prosper in all we do.

Hold on to the precious promises of God and keep his commandments! God bless!

Heeey!

So, today's Jake and Karen's wedding! As of now, just over two hours to go. It'll be pretty cool, especially since my brother Martin's one of those groomsmen, whatever you call them kinda guys. So, hey it'll be pretty cool. Last night, some of us youth girls and ladies from church (about 15-20 of us) peeled over 200 pounds of potatoes in like 45 minutes. Well, cutting them up was a little extra time, but it was fun. Now, since I have a lot to do before the wedding yet, I should probably run.

An Undivided Heart

Lord, put in me a new spirit
Remove my heart of stone
And give to me a heart of flesh
That trusts in You alone
Oh, That I may fear Your name
Each day right from the start
Oh, Lord, please give to me
An undivided heart.

I want a gaze that never waivers
Or loses sight of the goal
To keep it's focus on obeying You
With mind and body and soul
Help me to walk in submission to Christ
In whole and not in part
Oh, Lord, please give to me
An undivided heart.

I want Your joy to be my greatest strength
Your salvation my impassioned praise
Your holiness to be my way of living
For all the rest of my days
Keep me steadfast in doing Your work
And following the course that You chart
Oh, Lord, please give to me
An undivided heart.

Teach me to daily die to self
And to spend much time in prayer
That I may be discerning of those around me
And treat them with genuine care
I want to be totally true to You
To wear your righteousness as my mark
Oh, Lord, please give to me
An undivided heart.

I want to live the time You've given me
Committed fully to Your purpose and call
Lord, consume me with Your awesome presence
Cause me on my knees to fall
And bow to Your desire for my life
Let no circumstance keep us apart
Oh, Lord, please give to me
An undivided heart.
Crystal C. Godfrey

A Shocking Realization

I just came to a shocking realization. As the winds of change are turning once again in my life, I started to dread what I see coming and felt like I wasn't ready for it at all and then it dawned on me why. I remembered part of a message that says (not exact words): "You ask, 'What will it cost me for God to break my heart?' I'll tell you what it will cost you; it will cost you absolutely everything." Then he goes on to say that when God breaks your heart, you begin to see people the way that God sees them. And that is exactly what I'm afraid of. I'm afraid that I'll start to see people the way that God sees them and that it will cause me grief, sorrow, and pain. then I realized that this is what Jesus went through. By going through this, in a sense I would be becoming more like Jesus. Is that what I'm scared of? I don't have the slightest idea what it means to follow Jesus or who God is.

I ask you to pray that God really would break my heart and that I wouldn't let any bitterness into my heart, but rather a spirit of love and compassion. Pray that I would be yielded and allow God to fulfill what he wishes in my life.

And do you know what the strangest thing is? It almost feels like this is the result of someone else praying for me.

1 John 3:21,22
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

Life

What is our life? It is a vapour in the wind, here today and gone tomorrow. How do we live it? Now that's the ultimate question. Do we live it realizing how short it is, living everyday as if it were our last, always ready to see our Saviour, remembering that he's coming quickly. Are we too busy making plans for the future that we forget the present? What if God never grants you the future or decides to take you tomorrow? When you're older, do want to look back on your younger years with regrets? Live to be a blessing, an encouragment, choosing every word carefully, and avoid vanity. Live to honour and glorify God, seek his will for today, not five or ten years down the road. Strive to become more like Jesus, joyfully inviting trials and temptations in your life, even if they may be hard.

I'm encouraged by what Jim Elliot said:

"Wherever you are - be there 100%."

There is so much truth to that! Do everything as unto the Lord, knowing that of him, you shall receive your reward.

Humility

Well, you might already have guessed what I'm learning right now; humility. And is it ever humbling! It's a tough thing to learn but extremely important. There's many different areas and situations in which we learn this. I've been learning (through experience) how much power my words have and how much damage they can do. Then I also have to learn to humble myself and say that I was wrong without putting in the "But . . . " and then try to justify my words or actions. But as well as we know that trials are good for us and they help us grow. The small ones help us to become rooted deep so that when the bigger storms come, we are found rooted and firm.

Time For Another Post

Wow, this week has just flown by. It just feels like yesterday that I last posted but I figured it was probably a good idea to drop by. When I'm not babysitting or when Brendan's sleeping, I try to get in every minute of schoolwork that I can. So there's my excuse ahead of time if you don't hear from me for awhile. Pray that I would have a positive attitude towards this, even though it isn't always fun and that I would continue to work diligently. Also that I would never cut my quiet time short because of what I all have to do in a day. It reminds me of a poem that I read awhile back:

Time To Pray

I got up early one morning
and rushed right into the day;
I had so much to accomplish
that I didn't have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me
and heavier came each task;
"Why doesn't God help me?" I wondered
He said, "But you didn't ask."

I wanted to see joy and beauty
but the day toiled on, gray and bleak;
I wondered why God didn't show me.
He said,"But you didn't seek"

I tried to come into God's presence;
I used all the keys at the lock.
God Gently and lovingly chided
"My child, you didn't knock."

I woke up early this morning
And paused before entering the day.
I had so mush to accomplish
That I had to take time to Pray.

Author Unknown

May our every day start with God, no matter how much we have to do.

Promises

James 1:12
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Standing on the Promises
R. Kelso Carter

Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Thru eternal ages let His praises ring!
Glory in the highest I will shout and sing-
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises that cannot fail
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail;
By the living word of God I shall prevail-
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to him eternally by love's strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit's sword-
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
Listening every moment to the Spirit's call,
Resting in my Saviour as my all in all-
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Saviour;
Standing, standing,
I'm standing on the promises of God.

This being said, I pose a challenge to everyone for this year. As you read your Bible, write down all the promises that you come across. At the end of the year, see how many you found. Let me know in a comment on my last post of the year or my first one next year.