Every Thought Captive

How to Spend Your Time While a Single Youth

2012-01-22T20:44:00.004-06:00

Recently I was asked to watch a home and four kids while the parents took to the hills and spent some time with each other and the Lord.

This wasn't the first time I have gotten to be a "stand-in mommy" for a week or so, but I found myself again struck with the different seasons in life. The importance of redeeming the time.

As a young single woman, my schedule is vastly more flexible and open than if I had a home and children, and yet, somehow, it is still so easy to constantly be busy. But with what? I found myself asking, "What can I do now, that when I am married, I will have wished I had done while I had the time?" Is what I spend my time on now truly worthy of such an investment?

:: doing chores in the early mornings ::

:: bundled up children making new discoveries ::

:: lunch breaks ::

:: delightfully messy faces ::

:: random pauses to read colorful books ::

:: learning truth early ::

:: the setting sun on another dry, tranquil winter evening ::

:: baby feet ::

:: the welcoming aroma of fresh breakfasts ::

:: photo opportunities wherever I go ::

:: pancakes ::

:: bed heads ::

:: little fingers ::

:: a crackling fire kept burning all day ::

:: homework ::

All these little things I kept and "pondered in my heart." I love God's design for the home and family, but I also recognize that with that design comes much sacrifice. I was reminded of the unique opportunity we have as youth to serve others with strength, focus and availability. Our time is not less valuable because it is not called upon constantly by having our own children, meals and housework. Our time is not to be taken lightly or wasted simply because we do not have as much responsibility as a parent does. We do have a responsibility; we have been given much free time and God expects us to be wise stewards of such a gift!

What are some ways single people can be a blessing to others? Here are some practical ideas I could think of!

- Volunteer yourself to young mothers or fathers who could benefit from a helping hand with the children or work load.

- Develop musical skills to bless your local nursing homes, hospitals, orphanages and missions with music that refreshes your listeners and brings glory to the Lord.

- Be attentive to the needs of sick or hurting families and bring them meals.

- Develop your God-given interests (i.e. graphic design, photography, sewing, mechanics, painting, construction, gardening - the list is endless!) so that you play a vital, irreplaceable role in the lives of those who are blessed to know you.

- Discipline yourself to daily be in the Word and in prayer so that you are sensitive to the leading of the Spirit when in the midst of group activities.

- Memorize specific categories of Scripture that deal with certain topics that may come up in future conversations (i.e. discouragement, temptation, success, friendship, gossip, sorrow, materialism, etc.).

- Practice witnessing with a sibling so that you are prepared to be a doer of the Word next time you see an opportunity in a store or on the street.

- Be among the first to volunteer to clean up at events and parties!

- Get involved politically with candidates that support a godly vision of government.

- Set up an accountability partner that will keep you consistently growing in the knowledge of the Scriptures.

- Host a Bible study or begin discipling younger youth in your church.

- Seek out the children and invest in their lives with your time and energy.

- Visit the elderly and widows.

- Employ yourself with odd jobs for the purpose of donating your pay check to a non-profit ministry or organization.

There are so many more ways we can be using our time wisely! It is exciting to think of all the possibilities. Are any of the above activities ways that you are currently spending your time? What other ideas would you add to the list?

"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give;

not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

II Corinthians 9:7

New Years Resolutions: To Do or Not to Do

2012-01-07T11:53:00.003-06:00

Have done with lesser things. It's what keeps running through my mind as I make plans for 2012. The excerpt from William Merrill's, "Rise Up, O Men of God," first came to mind as I sat in church listening to the news about my friend, Kari Erickson. She had won the National Bible Bee and consequently, $100,000.

For the last year or two I was always excited to check up on her as we passed at church or various events and ask, "How's the memorizing coming?" I was never disappointed! Kari had focus. Almost always, after a little probing of mine, I'd learn that she was memorizing at least 20 verses a day. What better way can a youth invest in their life? God's Word never returns void. That's one of my favorite things about the Bible Bee - no matter who "wins", no one loses. Every verse of Scripture one memorizes is an investment in their life, and in the lives of those around them as that verse is applied to daily life.

This last summer, I was in a conversation with a friend about how sometimes, more important than the things we decide not to do, are the things we decide to do. For example, we may resolve that this next year, we will not watch a lot of movies or spend too much time on the internet. But if instead, we had resolved to pray for an hour and read 10 chapters in the Scriptures each day, we may accomplish both what we had wanted to do and what we wanted not to do. When Kari chose to memorize 20 verses a day, she was inadvertently deciding not to hang out at her friend's houses every time she wanted to, not to sleep in and not to waste her time. In doing the good, we won't have time for lesser things.

I don't want to be known by those around me as the girl who "doesn't smoke, doesn't drink and doesn't have a boyfriend (and hence, is really, really weird)." Christians should be known as doers of good things.

Rise up, O men of God!

Have done with lesser things.

Give heart and mind and soul and strength

To serve the King of kings.

Rise up, O men of God!

The kingdom tarries long.

Bring in the day of brotherhood

And end the night of wrong.

Rise up, O men of God!

The church for you doth wait,

Her strength unequal to her task;

Rise up and make her great!

Lift high the cross of Christ!

Tread where His feet have trod.

As brothers of the Son of Man,

Rise up, O men of God!

William P. Merrill

An Unexpected Loss

2011-12-31T13:14:00.002-06:00

What do these items . . .

1). A Willow Tree figurine

2). A camera

3). A diary

4). A laptop

and 5). A Bible

. . . have in common?

They are all things I grabbed when our house burned down. Flames were swallowing up the walls of my bedroom and smoke billowed up to the ceiling. My eyes stung and my eyelashes started sealing together under the scorching heat, but the adrenalin raced through my body as I frantically looked for the last time around my room. What do I grab?

My Bible was no question. I immediately reached for it while I was still practically asking the question. Then I thought value. Wish though I might, I couldn't grab the YAMAHA keyboard, but I knew right where my camera and laptop bags were. I yanked them out of their places and threw them over my shoulder. On my way out I swung open a desk drawer and pulled out a little purple diary with dried rose petals on the front. The most valuable diary I have. I caught glance of a little Willow Tree figurine on my window. She was holding her hands up in the smoke, her face already darkening with the burning blackness surrounding her. It's how I picture you, Dad told me after I opened the gift, lifting your soul up to God. In pen was written, ". . . Love, Dad Christmas, 2011". I felt a lump in my throat as I reached out to take it from the window and felt the little angel's chiseled, rough edges under my grasp. Running awkward from the weight on my shoulders, I limped quickly down the stairs and almost fell into the flames. I made my way through the rooms and into the outdoors, gasping for air . . . safe at last, with my family. Standing together, we watched in tears as over a decade of memories disintegrated into piles of ash, having no home in which to store themselves but in the hearts of us who held them dear. I closed my eyes and felt a throbbing sensation in my head from all the smoke, from the loss.

Looking up again . . . I saw nothing.

I heard nothing but the hum of silence in my ear. Turning, I saw a small white glow faze in and out from the laptop set on my desk. I felt cool; confused, but comfortable.

It was a dream, and there were no flames in the real world. Everything was in its place, and family was still sleeping. The rumble of the furnace started up and warm air pushed its way into the room.

In the darkness, heart still racing, I remembered:

"Luke 12:15, '. . . A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things

which he possesseth.'"

What would you impulsively grab in a fire? What do those things say about what you value? If everything you have - in fact, everything you just received for Christmas - were suddenly burned, how would you handle it? Do your things define you? Make you happy? The first half of Luke 12:15 says, "Take heed, and beware of covetousness:". It is disconcerting how easily we become materialistic, forgetting our real needs when our material ones are more than met.

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Matthew 6:19-20

{12.31.11}

2011-12-31T01:02:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T20:24:00.000-06:00

I hope you all have had a memorable day, rejoicing

in the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ!

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people from their sins.

Matthew 1:21

So Much Ter Do

2011-12-22T08:20:00.000-06:00

About that "my blog is going to come back to life again" comment a couple posts back? Well, heh . . . I'm still working on that. Don't loose your faith. Between not being home, being swamped with work, photography commitments, music deadlines, birthdays, Christmas festivities and, well, I guess the big one is not being home . . . I'm still in a post-pending mode. So much ter do, so little time ter do it.

Stick with me! I'll keep this place alive with this and that picture until I can most happily share some things I've been learning about life, from the Word, in witnessing, about the purpose of friendship, praying with the right motives, and all about kids under the age of 4 years old and what happens when they wake up early from their nap . . . when you're not around to watch them . . . and they find the butter knife . . . and the laptop . . . and they commence to helping you make sure everything is clean under those keys. Things like that.

Until then, a verse that has guided me often recently:

He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory:

but he that seeketh his glory that sent him,

the same is true, and no unrightesousness is in him.

John 7:18

{12.15.11}

2011-12-15T23:48:00.000-06:00

"Love one another, as I have loved you."

John 15:12

This is How I Feel . . .

2011-11-19T02:31:00.000-06:00

This is how I feel now that my laptop is back from the doctor. I've been without it for five months and now that it's back, well, among many other exciting things, my blog is going to come to life once again! Be encouraged! We serve Jehovah-Jireh. His time table may not be ours, and His ways certainly are not ours, but He is Sovereign, working through all sorts of "inconveniences" for the weaving together of a multiplicity of purposes. I did not have the money to fix this laptop, or the brains to fix it myself, but God provided both in His perfect timing - adding the testimony of $1,000+ repair job done for free. How has God provided for you recently?

Consider the lilies how they grow:

they toil not, they spin not;

and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory

was not arrayed like one of these.

If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field,

and to morrow is cast into the oven;

how much more will he clothe you,

O ye of little faith?

Luke 12:27-28

Coming Spring 2012

2011-11-15T23:18:00.000-06:00

Someone's sister is going to have baby #3 . . .

which means someone is going to be an aunt again!

This makes me very happy.

Where's Waldo?

2011-10-25T00:55:00.000-05:00

We will be dead a lot longer than we will be alive.

Doesn’t it make sense that we would invest more of our time in eternity?

Rick Grubbs

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:15-16

{10.14.11}

2011-10-14T00:32:00.000-05:00

Bright Lights to Eerie, Pennsylvania

2011-10-05T01:54:00.001-05:00

While in Ohio for a couple of conferences this summer, I had the opportunity to spend an afternoon with this vibrant family! A friend of theirs had recently been in a traumatic car accident. We were on our way to be with him and some of his family at the hospital, but before doing that, we spent an hour or two witnessing at a bay in Pennsylvania. I soon discovered what a true, bright light this family is! Their enthusiasm and creativity in sharing the Gospel encouraged our whole ministry team as I shared stories with them later.

Since the friend we were about to see in the hospital had recently been in a near-death experience, some of us used that as a conversation starter, asking if the one to whom we were talking was in that car accident and hadn't survived, where would they be? Heaven? Hell? What would happen? What did they believe?

One lady I talked with said she believed she was a good enough person to go to Heaven when she died. I then asked her if she would like to take a "good person test" to make sure. She hesitated and said, "No . . . no, I don't want to."

"I'm guessing that means you're not so sure that you are a good person, then. But if you are hinging where you'll spend eternity based on your belief in your goodness, don't you want to be sure that you are indeed good?"

"Well, I guess I just don't really feel like a very good person right now. I just had a few beers . . . but I do have a lot of questions, though, like, why didn't God create a perfect world? Why is there so much pain and suffering?" I told her God actually did create a perfect world, but that He also created man with a free will. That means we were not made to be like a bunch of robots running around doing whatever we were programmed to do, but rather He created us with the ability to choose between good and evil. He wanted us to obey Him because we loved Him. However, the very first man (Adam) sinned, and because of that sin, pain and suffering entered the world and has passed down upon all the descendants of Adam (see Romans 5:12). All of Creation is under a curse (see Romans 8:22), but only for a time. God has promised to create a new earth with no pain, no sadness, no suffering, no tears, no death, no curse. Why is He waiting? Because judgement must come before the new earth, and God is longsuffering, holding off that judgement for a time because He is not willing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance (see II Peter 3:9). There is a day when the door of God's mercy will be shut and it will be too late. If you put your trust in your own personal merits, you will fall embarrassingly short. "As it is written, There is none righteous, no not one:" (Romans 3:10) "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23) " . . . And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; . . . " (Isaiah 64:6) I left my new friend with some materials to read when she was sober again, and she was very grateful, as was I, to have met.

Another lady was out by the water taking a smoke. She had a few minutes before she had to be back at work, so we had a friendly conversation and she let me take her through the law (found in Exodus 20). When I told her that Jesus said to look at someone with lust is the same as committing adultery, and that hating someone would be judged as murder, she said, "Oh . . . maybe I'm not such a good person!"

Two young men were walking down the street and a couple of us walked up to them and said we had a question. "If you were to die today, where would you go?"

"Why don't you ask yourself!" one of the guys retorted.
"I have."
"Yeah? Well what do you believe?" Wow, we got to that fast, I thought!

"Well, I believe in a Heaven and a Hell," I said. "We are all sinners and will be judged by God's perfect standard on Judgement Day. Those who have lied, stolen, cheated, lusted and taken God's name in vain will be thrown into Hell, because the wages of sin is death. But the problem is, that describes all of us. So God, in His mercy, made Himself to be a substitute. 2,000 years ago, God became a man - the man Christ Jesus - lived a perfect life (something none of us has done or possibly could do), and took the punishment of our sin upon Himself, dying a cruel death on the cross in our place. Three days later, He defeated death itself, and rose again to life. Now all we have to do is turn from our sins (repent), confess we are sinners that deserve God's justice, and put our trust - not in our ability to even partially earn Heaven - but in Jesus Christ, who was the substitutionary atonement for our sin. The moment we do that, God will forgive us and grant us eternal life."

That began an interesting conversation. At first glance, those two guys (one with long, blue hair, and both with piercings and chains all over) could have looked intimidating. But God's Word "is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the diving asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) God's law works directly with the conscience, and as a result, in just a couple minutes, at least one of the two guys was seriously considering salvation, taking more material on the Gospel with a receptive heart. Praise the Lord! What a privilege it is to share such an exciting message of forgiveness and hope.

Do you have a witnessing story you'd like to share? I would love to read it in the comments below!

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day:

the night cometh, when no man can work.

John 9:4

Your Turn

2011-09-14T23:19:00.000-05:00

I have read a thousand and one quotes tonight, but my curser continues to blink expectantly.
I've decided I'd much rather hear from you instead . . .

What is one of your favorite quotes?

Having Difficult People in Your Life: the Upside

2011-09-07T00:51:00.000-05:00

Maybe you know someone who has serious character flaws. Maybe you are simply annoyed at the little quirks of a brother or sister from time to time. Maybe you don't know what I'm talking about because everyone in your life is simply pristine. Then again . . . maybe you are the difficult person! :) Whatever the case, people can tend to be like porcupines: to stay warm, they huddle and crowd together, but as a result, spiny quills poke, prod and prick all around. We can't get rid of difficult people. Difficult people are everywhere, so there's no point in running; all of us have a sin-nature. It does seem, however, that some have a few more quills than others. So what "warmth" can be found in that kind of company?

Several weeks ago, some friends and I were asked to teach on "Loving Difficult People". Actually, originally, the topic was Dealing with Difficult People, but as we began our study, we realized that was not the best title. We don't want to just deal with people; no, all who are are in our lives are there by the providence of God, for purposes far beyond our understanding and wisdom. So we want to do more than just deal with them, we want to love them as Jesus has loved us. After all, it was Jesus who loved us while we were the epitome of "difficult". We blithely spat in His face while He laid down His very life for us. That kind of love is supernatural, and people witnessing that love in us will know from where it comes. However, this is easier said than done! Some people are, well, really difficult. But if you have some of these really difficult people in your life, know that you also have a pile of potential for some really important lessons, too. Difficult people and potential for God's glory come hand-in-hand. After my friends shared some insights on how to love difficult people, I shared some of the blessings I have discovered in having difficult people in my own life.

1. Difficult people reveal to us the depth of our character.

Image I had a chain full of links – hundreds and hundreds of links – and all of them were in perfect condition: strong as iron. . . . Except one. How many of you would repel off a cliff using that chain? No one in their right mind! The chain could not be trusted. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. We are, likewise, only as “strong” as our weakest moments. If we take any pride in our self-perceived strength of character, we are simply setting ourselves up for a terrible disappointment. Our strength is not in ourselves, but in the Lord. It often takes these difficult people to show us our dependency on God. We don’t really know who we are and what we’re made of until faced with difficult people and situations.

Difficult people are often the mirrors that allow us to see the depth of our own character and to help us examine our own selves. Is our love conditional? Will we only love when we are loved back? Will we only serve when we are appreciated? Are we willing to be trampled over and still handle someone with patience?

I Peter 2:19-25 says, “For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow in his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” [emphasis added]

2. Difficult people help us build stronger character.

When my pride is hurt, my instinctive reaction is to defend myself and “protect my reputation”, but is that what Jesus did? No. When he stood before Pilate and was being falsely accused (not even accused for things He had committed, but accused for things He hadn’t), He stood silent. He had nothing to prove and no pride to bolster. He made himself of no reputation.

When there is friction in my relationship with another, it is often because I have viewed myself as more than a servant . . . and I am not. I am to serve God through whoever He places in my path to serve – be they kind or mean. I do not deserve acknowledgement and I have no claim to be lifted above my position. I love this next passage; please take some time to think on it:

Luke 17:7-10 says, “But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."

It is common to serve with expectations and not even realize it. But God loves us with an unconditional love, and we ought to do the same towards others. I Peter 4:8 says, " . . . love will cover a multitude of sins." Even when we deal with difficult people, we can tend to do it hoping we’ll get something out of it. Though the feelings may be ever so subtle, we want our good deeds to be acknowledged. We want others to notice and praise us, and when they don’t, in fact when they do the opposite and become even more difficult in spite of our "goodness" towards them, we are tempted to feel offended, taken for granted and defensive.

Difficult people help us develop humility.

James 1:2-4 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

3. Difficult people provide opportunity to earn lasting rewards in Heaven by serving them here on earth.

Matthew 25:34-40 says, “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee and hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

4. Difficult people strengthen our testimony.

If we never had to deal with difficult situations or difficult people, our testimonies would have no power. It is the very measure of difficulty that determines the measure of victory. If we are faithful to respond in a Christ-like way, our position may change from the receiver of difficult things, to the receiver of blessings. Proverbs 17:2 says, “A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.”

Some examples from the Scriptures to study:

David:

Mocked, chased by King Saul, life endangered

Made King of Israel, called a man after God’s own heart

Joseph:

Despised by his own brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused and thrown into jail

Rose to be the most powerful man in Egypt next to Pharaoh

Lazarus:

Poor, hungry, in pain

Comforted with eternal blessings in Glory

Blessed are the peacemakers:

for they shall be called the children of God.

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad:

for great is your reward in heaven.

Matthew 5:9, 12a

Isaiah 30:15

2011-09-04T22:23:00.000-05:00

In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.

Joel & Andrea

2011-09-01T21:02:00.001-05:00

In May of 2009, I had the privilege of making a new friend at a wedding in South Dakota. We hit it off right away, taking a long walk down the road and later in the park, talking about what the Lord was doing in our lives at the time. That was the beginning of a sweet friendship. We kept in touch since then, equally enjoying the fellowship, and watching with enthusiasm as the Lord continued to lead in each of our lives. Not too much time had passed, in fact, before it was clear God was doing something of Andrea's dreams. He was opening the door, after years of devotion to the Lord, to a new life, a new name, even a new country. He was calling her to lay her life down for another; to give of herself completely to the needs and desires of a man named Joel.

After their engagement, Andrea asked if I would be willing and available to be the pianist at her wedding in Wisconsin come August. She herself is an excellent pianist by no stretch of the imagination! But being the bride + the pianist was just not going to happen. I considered it a privilege to play for her, and looked forward to the opportunity. Moving to Iowa for the summer to intern with Bright Lights threw an unexpected hurdle into the equation, but little by little, the Lord brought it all together beautifully, and August 27th proved to be a beautiful, memorable day. Andrea had some great photographers lined up, but I just had to sneak in a shot or two during the reception to share with you all. :) I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking . . .

[boys love weddings]

Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him . . .

This is the Lord, we have waited for Him

Let us be glad and rejoice in His salvation!

Isaiah 25:9

{8.29.11}

2011-08-29T17:13:00.000-05:00

Someone I know just got married . . . :)

Flying By

2011-08-23T14:10:00.014-05:00

Weeks are flying by! Another conference road trip is behind us, and after four outstanding conferences in Pennsylvania and Ohio, our ministry team has scattered back to their respective homes across the States.

I am already missing this smiling group of girls from my small group in Ohio! We had six discussion times, much laughter, and for some, many tears.

Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine;

continue in them:

for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself,

and them that hear thee.

I Timothy 4:16

The Work Continues

2011-08-12T09:00:00.001-05:00

The Strong in the Lord Conference went well. Tonight the Radiant Purity Conference begins! Please keep praying.

"The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray."

Samuel Chadwick

Creation Museum & Pennsylvania Conferences

2011-08-09T13:20:00.001-05:00

On our way to Pennsylvania, part of our team stopped in Kentucky for a day at the Creation Museum. We all thoroughly enjoyed our time there! One of the highlights for me was how much Scripture was used. I doubt there was one room where Bible passages were, if not on pictures, plaques or monuments, spoken and sung out of the sound system! I loved to see God's Word honored, exalted, and proclaimed in truth.

For a short time I was nearby a father who tenderly led his young son by the hand and explained to him how, though our evidence is the same, Evolutionist's and Creationist's conclusions are different, as determined by their belief system. One denies God's existence and therefore must find altenernative explanations for Creation. The other, believing in God as the Creator of the world, sees His hand in everything, using His Word as the ultimate authority.

Another man, in response to the displays he was reading on the miracle of life, said to his wife, "So . . . they are saying life begins at conception . . ." After a slight pause, he said thoughtfully, "Then what does that mean about abortion?" It seemed as though this was the first time it really clicked.

Just in the day we were at the museum, about 2,000 visitors came through. Many of these were comprehending, for the first time, life-changing truths. Please pray for the museum and the thousands of people it reaches with the Gospel! For, as Hosea 4:6 says, "People are destroyed for lack of knowledge."

After our time at the museum, our team reunited in the beautiful hills of Collegeville, Pennsylvania, for another week of conferences -- starting tonight! As you think of us, here are some ways you can pray for our effectiveness:

The health, energy and joy of our team

God-ordained small groups

Wisdom shared be pleasing to the Lord

Discernment from the Holy Spirit

Blessings on technical logistics

Powerful testimonies

Sensitivity to the Lord's leading

Gospel message communicated with power

Zeal for evangelism increase and spread

Understanding deepened in father's and mother's sessions

Many late registrations

Conversation with a Muslim Friend

2011-08-03T08:04:00.012-05:00

Saturday wasn't going to work after all -- some of us had a wedding to attend, and some of us were otherwise committed with appointments. Sunday morning found us in church, and the afternoon and evening were additionally called for by two separate hospitality invitations. Monday was likewise packed to the brim with pressing projects, but . . . there really never is a convenient time to witness.

With this truth in mind, our little group of six headed out on Monday afternoon to a local famers' market, wondering how many people might be there in the 90 degree heat. We agreed to set aside 45 minutes to an hour for initiating conversations about the Gospel, prayed together that the Lord would multiply our efforts for the small amount of time we had, and broke off in pairs.

Melodie and I spotted a woman and two girls sitting at a picnic table. Walking up to the woman, we smiled and said,
"Hello! Are you having a nice day?" She smiled back and indicated she was. I continued, "My friend and I are doing a little survey, and we wondered if we could ask you a few questions?"
"Oh, I do not speak English . . ." she said with a thick accent.
Turning to the young girl beside me, I asked, "Do you?" Her English was perfectly understandable, and she agreed to interpret for us.

Melodie began, "In the last six months, has your interest in God increased, decreased, or stayed about the same?"
"Definitely increased!" the girl to our right exclaimed. She repeated the question to her mother, and her mother agreed.

"Do you consider yourself to be a Christian? If so, why?"
"I am a Christian," the girl replied, "and my sister is a Christian," she pointed to the younger girl in front of her, "and my dad is a Christian, but Mom is not."
"You are not a Christian?" I asked the woman directly.
"No," she shook her head.
"What do you believe?" I inquired.
"I am a Muslim. I am from Indonesia."

"You are a Muslim!" I exclaimed. I was thrilled! "Are you participating in Ramadan?"
"Yes!"
"Well I believe the Lord has brought us together, then, because just this very day - the 1st day of Ramadan - we have begun a month of prayer for Muslims around the world." {Ramadan is the time that Muslims set aside to fast and pray, focusing on seeking God.}

"I don't know a lot about what Muslims believe; could you tell me?" I asked honestly.
"Allah . . . believe in Allah . . . and Yesus. But Yesus --" she struggled to find the right words, "not God."
"You do not believe Jesus is God?"
"No. He good man; not God." She held her hand up and put her index and middle finger together to indicate she believed in God as the higher one (she pointed to her middle finger) and Jesus as the lower (she pointed to her index finger).

"You believe Jesus is the Son of God?" Melodie asked.
"Yes, but not God." she confirmed.
"Well, Jesus claimed to be God in the Bible," I added. "So either He was who He said He was, or He was a liar -- but good men do not lie."

"Jesus said, 'I and my Father are one.' (John 10:30) In John 14:6, Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.'"

Taking a pen and paper, I drew a triangle to give her a visual image of the Trinity, writing, 'God' at one point, 'Jesus' at another, and 'Holy Spirit' on the last, to communicate that though Jesus is indeed the Son of God, He also is God. We believe in one triune God: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. Melodie used an egg as an illustration. An egg has three parts: the shell, the yolk, and the white, and yet, it is one egg.

In broken English, she expressed she had things to say, but was somewhat frustrated with the language barrier; we reassured her we were in no rush, and she could take her time.

She had a bag of green beans in front of her that she had been snapping. Continuing to work with her hands, her daughter translated for her, and we learned that she was fine with her husband and daughters being Christians (though as we talked some with her daughter, we were not convinced that her daughter truly understood the Gospel), and fine with them reading the Bible, but she herself did not believe.

"I read the Bible. I sleep with the Bible." The woman used the word, "Confused . . . " and that got my attention.

"I don't know who to pray to. Read the Bible, and I read Koran. Pray to Jesus or Allah? But if I'm wrong, that's just the way it is."

I paraphrased James 4:14 for her, "What do we profit, if we gain the whole world, but then go to hell?" (interpereting through her 12-or-so-year-old resulted in a very simplified vocabulary. :) ) Hebrews 11:6 says, " . . . He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

"You and I are both sinners," I stated. "The punishment of sin is death; we do not deserve Heaven; we cannot earn it. But because of God's love for us, 2,000 years ago He became a man, the man Christ Jesus. He lived a perfect life, and, though He did not deserve to die, He chose to take our punishment upon Himself, so the justice of God could be satisfied. He is perfectly just, and justice demands sin be punished," but because God is also wholly loving, He made a means of salvation from the consequences of our own failures; we must only believe, turning from those things He hates. I pulled out my Bible and showed her I Timothy 2:5-6, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."

Our Muslim friend describing the way Jesus shines in her dreams

"I dream about Jesus," she said with conviction, and yet perplexity. With her hands she began to motion that in her dreams, He was shining. "Always bright, always smiling . . . and then --" it took her a while to explain that, "He disappears." We got the impression she dreamt often about Him, and it was always the same: radiant, and with invitation, but then gone.

This was uniquely significant to us, as just a week and a half earlier at a local prayer meeting, a missionary from the Middle East had emphasized how common it has been for many Muslims to report of dreaming of this same, "bright, shining man." It really seems that in some cases, God has been working through dreams to draw Muslims towards the Lord.

After about half an hour of talking with her, a van pulled up and she said she had to go, that she was actually on her way to a Bible study at a Baptist church. We encouraged her, saying that studying the Bible was wonderful, and then asked her name. After praying with her, she smiled gratefully and shook our hands before leaving.

Afterwards, we marveled at God's timing. I have never knowingly witnessed with a Muslim before, and yet on the very first day of Ramadan, after specifically setting aside time to daily pray for Muslims, our paths crossed with one who clearly is being drawn by the Lord! Please pray for our new Muslim friend, and join the host of Christians all over the world who are praying through Ramadan for Muslims. For a day-to-day guide on how to pray specifically for them, you can sign up for the daily emails here and/or order a prayer guide here. In fact, you may want to order some for your church family, and encourage others with testimonies of Muslims coming to faith in Jesus. And please, be bold in sharing your faith! I myself know very little about the Muslim faith, and it may feel intimidating to talk with them about the Gospel, but if we have been saved, we know enough to start talking. There is not a doubt in my mind that very many of you would have been much more equipped to talk with Muslims about Jesus than I, and yet -- God uses weak, inexperienced, willing people to share mind-boggling truths. In fact, the more weak we are, the more glory God receives, because any and all victory can only be attributed to Him.

Sneak Peek

2011-07-30T22:24:00.003-05:00

I just came back from following this gal around like a little lost puppy, second-shooting Tony and Natalie: a lovely couple! We had so much fun. I got cockle-burrs up one side and down the other of my skirt; she lost her lens (And found it again. Yay.). I ran in the lake and got myself soaked, and we all collectively watched the balloons accidently fly away from our set... It was a happy, eventful evening, and I thought you might enjoy a sneak-peak of the shoot: sans-Photoshop.

Hope you're having a great weekend! :)

Praise ye the LORD.

Praise the LORD, O my soul.

While I live will I praise the Lord:

I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.

Psalm 146:1-2

{7:24:11}

2011-07-24T19:44:00.003-05:00

I love candids.

Candids capture real life: unforced, unposed, sometimes simple, sometimes weighty, but always honest, always real. And I'm all about real. I love veracity; I feel most comfortable around those people who exercise it.

And so {the series} has begun: unforced, unposed, simple photos that hold small stories, medium stories, big stories. Are you excited?

Yeah, me too! Candid moments are what life is made of -- as they say, life is what happens while you're waiting for it to happen.

By the way -- why are all my blogger friends out there so quiet? Hm? Don't be so shy . . . I'm really not even scary-looking, much less scary. So make my day and check in every now and then so I don't start to wonder if you're okay. Okay? Here, I'll make it easy for you: I'll redo my whole blog scheme, with new headers and everything just so you have something to say that brings you out of the shadows! Aren't I nice?

Thank You!

2011-07-18T01:31:00.000-05:00

Signing a table-full of thank-you's reminded us just how much of a group effort conferences are! No one person can be credited for the overall success of the event, but rather it is our delight to see the body of Christ in action - each serving according to his or her abilities towards the completeting of one goal. That includes those of you who, though you are hundreds of miles away, have been praying for the unity and health of our team, the effectiveness of each testimony. We, too, have been praying for the measure of godliness being infused into these daughters, who will, one day, be wives and mothers, counseling and helping our leaders, and teaching the next generation's children.

These are only some of the familiar faces I was very delighted to see in Omaha, Nebraska! :)

Mom and Dad were able to come down for most of the Radiant Purity conference, and though our time together was brief, it was very encouraging! I was pleasantly surprised with how much "catching up" can be packed into one lunch break. :)

I have found it to be a great growing experience for me to travel with Bright Lights; it's wonderful to see hundreds of girls come into these churches - some with uncertainty written over their faces, some with godly joy and confidence, others struggling with bitterness, fear, regret - but almost all leaving with renewed focus, testimonies, inspiration, commitments, and a determination to delight in dwelling in the center of God's will, whatever that be.

One girl wrote towards the end of the conference that she had commited to making, "permanent decisions on temporary emotions". I thought that was an insightful comment. Emotions are temporary and oftentimes misleading, which is why we do not base our decisions on how we feel, but rather on the Word of God. Will God not pour His blessings out on such faith? I am so grateful for the reliability and sufficiency of the Scriptures!

Trust in him at all times;

ye people, pour out your heart before him:

God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Psalm 62:8

Omaha

2011-07-14T16:03:00.001-05:00

The Strong in the Lord conference has finished! We are grateful for how smoothly everything is going and are encouraged by all the positive feedback. Reading the response forms is one of the favorite things to do afterwards, where we learn that hundreds of girls have made commitments to honor their parents, keep a clear conscience, minister to brothers and sisters, spend time in the Scriptures, and more.

Today is our day of "recuperation" before the Radiant Purity conference starts tomorrow. After being on the road for 10 days and running 3 conferences together during that time, it feels nice to sit back and take it easy. :) Looking forward to another great conference weekend! Please keep praying!

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God,
without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation,

among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ,

that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Philippians 2:15-16

Apathy

2011-07-12T23:07:00.001-05:00

In my limited experience, junior high girls can be quite apathetic when it comes to the Gospel. They are, however, also receptive, and usually willing to talk. I am especially thankful that we have the law of God to use when witnessing to someone who is like this, because the law is our schoolmaster - it teaches us, reveals to us our sin, and brings us to Christ. Romans 7:7b says, "I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet."

"Hi, did you get one of these yet?" I sat down in front of a couple of girls sitting by a tree and handed them a couple of tracts. "I'm kind of working on a project. Could you help me out? I'm trying to find out what people think happens after we die... what do you believe?"

"I don't know," one of the girls shrugged and smiled.

"Do you believe in a heaven or a hell?"

Simpering, she replied, "Uh... I don't really know..."

"Okay, well do you believe in the Bible?"

"Yeah."

"Well, the Bible says there is a Heaven, and there is a Hell. Since you believe the Bible is true, and the Bible says there are both of these places, how do you think one goes to Heaven vs. Hell?"

"I'm not sure."

I was beginning to wonder if this conversation was going to go anywhere, when her friend peaked around from the other side of the tree and looked at me with interest. I was encouraged to continue, so I asked, "Do you think if you're a good person you'll go to Heaven?"

"Yeah."

"Do you?" I asked her friend. She nodded.

"Would you like to take a test to find out if you're a good person?"

"Sure."

"Okay, what we're going to go through comes straight from the Bible - the 10 commandments, actually. Are you familiar with those?"

"Sort of..."

"Okay, well one of them says, 'Thou shalt not lie'. Have you ever lied?"

They both emphatically said yes, laughing lightly.

"What does that make you?"

"Um, a liar?"

"Another one says, 'Thou shalt not steal.'"

"Have you ever stolen anything - irrespective of its value?"

"Yes."

"What does that make you?"

"A thief." It seemed like they were taking things a little more seriously now.

"Another command says, 'Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.' Have you done that?"

"...Yes."

"That's very serious, it's called blasphemy." I tried to communicate the truth of sin's offense, but with love.

"Another command says, 'Thou shalt not commit adultery'. Jesus said that if we even look at a man or woman with lust, that is the same as commiting adultery. Have you ever done that?"

They both indicated they had.

"So," I said slowly, "by your own admission, you are a liar, a thief, a blasphemer, and an adulterer at heart. If you were to stand before a righteous and holy God on judgement day, would you be found innocent or guilty?"

"Guilty," she replied. "Guilty," her friend echoed.

"Heaven or Hell?"

"Hell..."

"Does this concern you?"

"Yes!"

"It concerns me, too... Hell is described as a place where there is wailing, and gnashing of teeth; it is a lake of fire. We may live here on earth for, what - 70 years? My sister was hit by a semi-truck when she as just a little younger than I... had she or the truck been going just a mile per hour faster or slower, she almost assuredly would have died. We don't know how long we have, so making sure of our salvation is of utmost priority. Eternity is a very, very, very long time and I don't want you to spend it there!"

"But God is forgiving..." she added, hesitantly.

"Imagine you are in a court room," I replied, "and you said, 'Judge, I know... I've robbed a bank and murdered a few people, but you are a nice, kind judge and I know you'll just forgive me and let me go free!' What kind of judge would that man be, to leave your sin unpunished?"

They laughed, and agreed that would be a pretty poor judge.

"You see," I continued, "A lot of people believe that because God is good, He will simply let them go, unpunished - overlooking their sin. But, in reality, the very fact that God IS good, means that He MUST punish that which is bad. God is just, right? Justice demands that crimes be paid for. And Romans 6:23 says, 'The wages of sin is death.'"

The friend of the girl I initially began talking with was listening very intently as I asked, "Do you know what God did so you wouldn't have to go to Hell for eternity?"

They both shook their heads.

"God is wholly just, yet He is also wholly loving. Because of His love, He created man, even with the knowledge that our sin would cost Him His very Son's life. 2,000 years ago, God became a man, the man Christ Jesus. Jesus lived a perfect life - something none of us has done or could do - and then died on the cross, taking the punishment of our sins - death - upon Himself. This was so much more than the physical pain." I emphasized, "Definitely the pain was excruciating. He had nails thrust through His hands and His feet, a crown of thorns piercing His head, was spat upon, mocked, ridiculed, shamed and marred more than any man. But what I believe to be the true weight upon Jesus, was that the full wrath of God for all the sins of the world for all time was poured upon Him. Jesus endured more than the physical torture, He experienced spiritual separation from God, something I don't think you or I could ever comprehend."

It's been said, "If they can't see tears in your eyes, let them hear the tears in your voice." I attempted to communicate with this in mind.

"So the price has been paid. Jesus lived, died, and rose again to save us. But now, a transaction must be completed. Imagine you are back in the court room, and just before the judge slams the hammer down, sentencing you to life imprisonment, a man rushes in and exclaims, 'Wait! I want to take her place. Please, let her go free; count me as guilty instead.' You would have a choice. You could say, 'No, I want to take the punishment for my own crime,' or you could accept the offer, and go free, placing the punishment of your sin upon the substitute."

I continued, "To receive God's provision of deliverance, we must understand that no matter what we do, we could not possibly merit Eternal Life on our own. We are all sinners, and our sin must be punished. Our sin must be placed upon Jesus, so that God's wrath may be satisfied. Jesus said in Luke 13:3, 'I tell you, ...except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.' Repentance is not sorrow. Sorrow is when we feel bad about what we have done. Repentance is action. If you truly believe in God, that He loved you enough to give His life for you, and that you will one day stand before Him to give account for your actions, you will desire to please Him - hating the things that He hates, loving the things that He loves. Old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new."

"Does this make sense?" I asked. They said it did, and seemed to genuinely appreciate me talking with them.

"I'm not out here talking to you just because I think it's fun or something," I added, " I'm talking to you because I care about where you will spend eternity. I don't want you to end up in hell - that would be terrible. Please take what I'm saying seriously." I asked if they each had a Bible, encouraged them to read it, not just taking my word for truth, but searching it out for themselves. After asking for their names, I was able to pray for them before I left.

Though they were receptive of the Gospel, I am also aware that the devil is a thief, and in the parable of the sower, there are those seeds that, "fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:" I pray that this will not be the case with these two girls, but that God would send others to water what has been sown.

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth;

but God that giveth the increase.

I Corinthians 3:7

The Journey Continues...

2011-07-10T17:05:00.002-05:00

Purity is the act of seeking first the kingdom of God in our relationships;

it is not gaurding against the love of others, but is in fact,

loving others in the highest sense by desiring what is best for them.

Pictured above: my sweet small group from the Radiant Purity Conference Friday and Saturday!
{photo by Melodie Kirk}

On to Omaha, Nebraska! Looking forward to seeing some familiar faces there... :)

Wisconsin: Strong in the Lord Conference

2011-07-07T17:27:00.000-05:00

One of the most encouraging things to hear is, "We have been praying for you!" It's nice to hear people say they will, but when they say they already have, that has alot more weight. We were grateful to hear that each Tuesday night, in anticipation of our team traveling to Wisconsin, a group of mothers set aside time to lift the leaders, attendees and various aspects of conference details up in prayer. As John Bunyan said, "You can do more than pray, after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed."

We do highly value the support of each and every person who remembers our need for prayer this week; thank you to those who are, and please persevere with us as we prepare for the Radiant Purity conference starting tomorrow!

To Love or Not to Love

2011-06-29T23:00:00.003-05:00

Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket - safe, dark, motionless, airless - it will change. It will not be broken; instead it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and disturbances of love is Hell.

C. S. Lewis

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

Matthew 23:37

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Luke 19:10

He 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.

Isaiah 53:3

He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

John 1:11

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

John 15:18

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another;
as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

John 13:34

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 13:35

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song.

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.
Frederick Martin Lehman

Photo by c Prairie View Communications, LLC

Hope in Emptiness

2011-06-23T20:20:00.001-05:00

Now faith is the subtance of things hoped for,

the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Faith and hope. Faith leads us to hope, and hope sustains our faith. They work together, like mercy and truth. What would faith be if hope did not carry it on and cause it to endure? Or what would hope be if faith gave it no precedent on which to act? We build by faith with the hope that God will give the increase. But though we build our "nest" of faith, it still lies empty for a time. We wait. We hope. We are not yet complete, we have not yet received, we have not yet obtained. We believe that He is faithful. We build with full anticipation that He will fill; that He which begun the good work, with carry it on to completion. But while we wait, there is still this reality of emptiness, of patience, of longing.

But there is also the reality of a new season. A season not any more of emptiness, or waiting, or longing, but of fulfilled hopes, and rewarded faith, of filling, and completing.

So wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He will strengthen you. Wait... wait on the LORD. Because they that wait upon the LORD will not only renew their strength; they will exceed it. They will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run, and not be weary; and they will walk, and not faint. What we build by the direction of the Lord in faith will not be thrust back at our faces in mockery by the Author of faith itself. We have hope in His faithfulness, and faith that He will fulfill our hopes.

Hope does not disappoint.

Photography by c Prairie View Communications

The Hope of Righteousness

2011-06-19T20:28:00.003-05:00

For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

Galatians 5:5

This was the verse that God used to send peace to my heart about His plans for me this summer. If you are a Christian, you may well know the near indescribable desire that comes over you to please Christ and to truly be found faithful. To not just to have a life abundant with good works, that God would be magnified, but to live your life in such a way that Satan would fume in anger at the damage done to his kingdom by the gushing power of Christ effectively distributed through you. To know God so intimately, to love Him so whole-heartedly, that the rich spiritual discernment only triggered by the very dwelling of His Spirit in your life, is infused into every earthly decision. To walk in victory, to dwell in wisdom, to diligently, powerfully share the Gospel to those who, without knowledge of the law, would not know the beauty of grace.

It is an amazing thought to dwell on - that we, mere flesh and blood, can attain this righteousness of Christ. We have hope. Hope in life and hope in death! We are a people of hope. And how vain all of our good actions would be, if we were not drawn to a closer walk with Christ ourselves, if we talked about Him, and did the things He did, but our actions were all spurred on by knowledge, and not through firsthand experience. It can become so easy to desire a broader ministry on earth, but not pray for depth... so we may indeed get a broader ministry, but its impact is so shallow! Deepen your walk with God, and He will broaden it, I am told.

This desire for Christ's fellowship has been the leading confirmation for me to set aside this summer for the purpose of deepening my walk with Him! Three other girls and I are interning with the Bright Lights ministry, and already one fast-paced week is behind us! Our afternoons are spent with the more practical side of the ministry, such as graphic design, preparation for conferences, packing orders, managing the book store, writing discipleship material, etc. and our mornings are spent in the Word, study and prayer. It really feels like gold to be able to set aside the responsibilities at home that fill time up so quickly, and invest in knowing Christ more personally instead.

As I mentioned briefly on twitter, I had a pretty unexpected (is it ever expected?...) computer problem just before coming to Iowa that may significantly effect my blogging this summer! However, I have a lot of pictures and stories to share about our work here and upcoming travels around the States that I would love to share with you! So if you want to keep up with the latest - pray for my poor little laptop! :) And me! I'm kind of in Photoshop withdrawal...

I mentioned at the beginning of this post how Galatians 5:5 was my theme verse before coming here:

For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

After I arrived in Iowa and had settled in to the intern's house, I came across Romans 5:5, which was right in line with theme of Galatians 5:5, and felt like an incredible confirmation from the Lord that I was right where He wanted me! Romans 5:5 says,

And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Hope you all are having a refreshing and restful Sunday - especially you fathers! I am immensely grateful for my own dad and his wisdom, love and support that have been extremely instrumental in my life. But most of all, I am eternally indebted to our Heavenly Father, by Whom I have the hope of righteousness, by faith. What a rewarding pursuit! Let's not leave its power undiscovered.

No man that seeketh after things of this life

Is a soldier who passes the test.

Be faithful, be working, be running, be serving,

Be searching His Word for His best.

Living or dying, may honor be Thine.

From this wretched life, You loved and forgave.

A life that is on fire, be only our heart's desire.

Be faithful from now to the grave.

May the Lord find us faithful.

May His Word be our banner held high.

May the Lord find us faithful

Ev'ry day, though we live, though we die.

Mac Lynch

Jesus, These Eyes Have Never Seen

2011-06-09T20:42:00.000-05:00

Jesus, these eyes have never seen,
That radiant form of Thine;
The veil of sense hangs dark between
Thy blessèd face and mine.

I see Thee not, I hear Thee not,
Yet art Thou oft with me;
And earth hath ne’er so dear a spot,
As where I meet with Thee.

Like some bright dream that comes unsought
When slumbers o’er me roll,
Thine image ever fills my thought,
And charms my ravished soul.

Yet though I have not seen, and still
Must rest in faith alone;
I love Thee, dearest Lord, and will,
Unseen, but not unknown.

When death these mortal eyes shall seal,
And still this throbbing heart,
The rending veil shall Thee reveal,
All glorious as Thou art.
Ray Palmer

Happy Birthday, Kiddo.

2011-06-06T19:35:00.000-05:00

We're glad you're turning two.

(Just don't grow any older! *grin*)

And we're glad you're growing some hairs.

(You can grow more of those.)

(It's not Kalina's birthday yet, but shhhh... don't tell her that!)

How can one so little have a heart so big?

Happy birthday, William, we love you dearly!

Jesus called them unto him, and said,

Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not:

for of such is the kingdom of God.

Luke 18:6

I'm Splurging

2011-06-05T21:48:00.000-05:00

Every now and then (actually, every now and a lot), I am dying to show you a snapshot from the day, but I have this problem: I have nothing poignant to say with the picture, or nothing that particularly fits under the category of 'bringing every thought captive'. That is to say, not anything that will necessarily particularly especially spur you on to greater godliness, exactly... or, rather... er, okay: I'm feeling just a little lazy and out of time to come up with something extraordinaire that fits the photograph.

What then shall I do? What shall I call these little splurges of mine? Will you let me share them? Will you let me share them even if you don't want me to share them?

Okay. See? Definitely not coming up with anything poignant here. Help me out, bloggers.

"Now What?" {A Post for the Graduates}

2011-05-30T09:25:00.006-05:00

Photo courtesy of Hannah Hanson

May. 'Tis the month to graduate! My brother joined the ranks of high school graduates last Sunday along with some other youth from our church, and, as always, it was great to stop and praise them for the many ways they have illustrated Christian character in their homes and abroad.

And so there are the speeches, and the cake, and the (embarrassing) baby pictures, and the old friends, and the new friends, and: THE question, "So... what are you going to do next?"

Yes. That question. Some of us know at age 6 what our calling is. Some of us are brilliantly talented in a certain area that naturally leads us to a certain vocation. And others of us feel like the jack of all trades and the master of none, with a plethora of opportunities before us, little discernment, and a whole lot of pressure to get it right.

And then, of course, there are others of us that aren't even the jack of any trade. Or at least, haven't discovered it yet. Isn't it curious that God designed life in such a way that we make some of our most life-impacting decisions when we have the least experience?

I love hearing Dad recall his past. He had no desire whatsoever to be a pastor when he was growing up; the thought didn't even cross his mind. In fact, he was a pre-med major in college on his way to becoming a doctor, when a man knocked on his door, shared the Gospel with him and lead him to Christ a few days later.

After that, he knew the Lord wasn't leading him towards the medical field, and so he started taking English courses, thinking maybe law school was the thing for him. An offer to teach at the University of South Dakota and work on a master's degree in English directed him differently, however. After teaching at USD, he taught English in the University of New Orleans. He then received a grant to teach and pursue a PhD in religion and literature and also to teach at the University of Virginia. However, before the semester began, he was deeply impressed that was not where God wanted him, so he began a retreat of seeking the Lord.

Photo courtesy of Hannah Hanson

That began 5 years of reading, praying, studying, meditating. During that period, churches began to ask him to speak, which led to a vision of planting a church in South Dakota. At the end of Dad's 5-year retreat, he met and married Mom. He then spent 8 years in personnel management and public relations, the last 3 of which he also attended and taught at seminary in the evenings.

Then I was born.

(Totally irrelevant to the point I'm about to make... just thought I'd mention it.) Dad graduated, and the Lord opened the door to go to South Dakota to take over a church plant work in Sioux Falls, where he has been for 19 years, as of Father's Day.

None of the occupations leading up to his pastoring were what Dad wanted to do the rest of his life, and yet God was preparing him for just that! If you had asked him at the time he graduated from high school, however, you might as well have asked how many hairs were on his head. God's ways certainly are not ours, and are not liberally unveiled by our desire to know them. And yet, have comfort that we are HIS workmanship created in Christ Jesus. He's not going to leave us unfinished, or leave us to plod along our own way, if we belong to Him. God has already ordained what works we're supposed to do, and He's preparing us for the task. A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

So back to why I brought up Dad. Even though he didn't begin pastoring until he was in his mid-30s, the college writing classes he taught for a number of years helped him to organize thoughts and express himself with clarity. His 5-year retreat developed his prayer life. Eight years in public relations and personnel management taught him how to lead. See now, how God was weaving together Dad's occupations to equip him for the real work? Truly, we walk by faith, and not by sight.

Proverbs 119:105 says,

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Familiar, right? But have you ever stopped to think about how much light a lamp gives in darkness? It doesn't give much! Especially a lamp that the Psalmist would have been familiar with at the time of his writing. A lamp like that would only have given enough light for the very next step. God's Word IS light to our path, it does guide us. He does direct our steps, but often only a few at a time. Hence, we must needs be constantly abiding, lest we loose direction.

Have you ever seen a miner's hat with a lamp in front? Suppose a miner is down in the mine, and the light shines twenty-five feet out in front of him. And suppose he says, I'm not going to take another step until I can see the end of the tunnel. Then he would never take another step. Unless he walks in the light he already has, he will never receive more light. But as he walks in the light, he will find a light moving out in front of him. And the more he walks, the more the light will move.

And so a believer keeps taking the next step, and the next step . . . .

- Dr. Curtis Hutson, How to Know the Will of God

Just as grace leads to grace, direction leads to more direction, and usually in small doses. Focus on doing the next best, right thing; always the next best thing. We sometimes cannot see our life calling until in retrospect. God is faithful. We can be, "confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in [us] will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" (Phil. 1:6)

Scripture Memory Challenge, IX: Witnessing

2011-05-24T12:55:00.004-05:00

Last Thursday, this group of girls gathered at our place for another Scripture Memory Challenge! This time, our verses (all 37 of them) were centered around the Gospel, and sharing the Gospel with others!

I really can't do justice to our evening together with just a handful of photos and comments... wish you could have joined us. I felt like God tremendously blessed everything - the timing, the topic, the conversation, even the general spirit of everyone. We had a guest join us this time and she exclaimed to us, "I wish my youth group was like this!" We truly are blessed to have so many girls striving to live vibrant Christian lives. Another girl mentioned to me afterwards that she wasn't originally super excited about this topic being the theme of our Challenge, because she thought she pretty much had it down, but then realized there was a lot more to learn! She said, "I think this has probably been the best challenge yet!!"

I agree.

Our approach towards memorizing Scripture together over the course of the last several years has changed. Sometimes we've memorized a book together, with each girl taking on her own chapter, other times we've memorized long passages, such as Psalm 119, and sometimes we've selected a theme and pulled verses from all over the Bible that aid us in understanding that given topic on a deeper level. Sometimes we've quoted together, sometimes alone, and sometimes in front of a lot of people, but always, I have felt the blessing of God on our times together: the development of accountability, diligence, perseverance, encouragement for one another as we work towards a common goal, and at the last - a great feeling of success and rich fellowship as we learn how to incorporate into our lives what we now have memorized. :)

I had put together a list of common objections or questions that people have when discussing Christianity, and Dad had the idea of putting them on the back of photographs, so that each girl could pick a photo of a person that caught her eye, flip it over to read the question/statement, and answer it with a verse from our memory list. It was great!

One of the questions was,
If God is love, why does He let bad things happen to good people?

First, there are no good people, according to the standards of God's law.

Romans 3:10 "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:"

And we know that suffering is a result of sin:

Romans 5:12 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"

However, sin was dealt with at the cross, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: " [I Peter 3:18] and John 1:12 says, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" If we receive Christ, we have the hope of spending eternity without the painful consequences of a fallen creation.

A few more statements that we answered with Scripture:

I’ve never sinned.
I John 1:8-10: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

Yesterday I talked with a young Mexican lady in a park who had never even heard of the 10 commandments before, and as we went through a couple of them, she didn't think she had ever broken one. However, she did agree with me that the Bible is true, and so I reminded her of a few verses such as Romans 3:10 and Romans 3:23, and shared with her that if we could indeed obtain perfection here on earth, then Jesus Christ died in vain! Our salvation would be by our own works, our own merit, and not by the grace of God.

I think there are a lot of roads to Heaven!

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

I Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

I’m afraid I won’t know what to say when I witness.

Are you saved? If so, then you know enough to tell others! We did a quick survey to find out of the girls we had Thursday night, how many were lead to Christ because someone (parent, friend, pastor, stranger) shared the Gospel with them, and I believe it was something like 80% prayed to receive Christ because of someone else spoke with them about it! And be assured, the people who spoke to them about their relationship with Christ probably didn't know everything about "how to witness", but they were, nevertheless, willing (praise the Lord for that) and God clearly blessed their efforts!

   Study to shew thyself approved unto God.
   Go, because it is commanded.
     Meditate on these verses:

Jeremiah 1:8-9   Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

Exodus 4:12   Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

One more thing here - if you don't know how to answer someone's question, consider getting their email address or phone number and say something like, "I don't know the answer to that, but I would be glad to let you know as soon as I find out." This not only relieves a little pressure :), it expresses sincerity and genuine concern for the person with whom you are talking.

I’m not as bad as a lot of people. I’ve never killed anybody!
James 2:10   For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

How does some man dying on a the cross have anything to do with me?

I Peter 3:18   For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

II Corinthians 5:21   For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

A couple days after our Challenge, I was talking about the topic of witnessing with a friend while we were out hiking. She told me after that conversation, her dad and she were at a gas station and got in a great conversation with the lady at the counter, then went home, highlighted a bunch of verses in a Bible, and went back to give it to her to read. She said it was not just an opportunity to witness, but the beginning of a relationship, which I was very glad to hear :), because it is our lives that will be the strongest testimony of the Gospel! We absolutely, undoubtedly should be verbally sharing the Gospel with the lost, but even more importantly, our lives should manifest the Gospel by what we say, where we go, how we spend our time, what we wear, what our relationships are like with our parents, siblings, and friends, what our goals are in life and of course, whether or not we are passionate enough about what we believe to share with others what has transformed us. After all, we are the Christ ones: the Christians. We are the ambassadors of Heaven! May our prayer be, "He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30

Not I, but Christ, be honored, loved, exalted;
Not I, but Christ, be seen be known, be heard;
Not I, but Christ, in every look and action,
Not I, but Christ, in every thought and word.

Frances E. Bolton

Thank you, Hannah Hanson, for all of these photos!

On Missions

2011-05-16T11:43:00.000-05:00

The fact is, it is not the will of God for all of us to go to the wilds of Siberia; it is not the will of God for each and every one of us to become a missionary in a foreign land. However, it is the will of God for each and every one of us to participate in the Great Commission in a way that demonstrates a genuine disinterest in self and corresponding sacrifice.

Missions is simple – either you go down [into the well] with the rope or you hold on to the rope. We are called to one or the other.

-Paul Washer

So, you have three possibilities in world missions. You can be a goer, a sender, or disobedient. The Bible does not assume that everyone goes. But it does assume that the ones who do not go care about goers and support goers and pray for goers and hold the rope of the goers.

-John Piper

Lamentations 3:51

2011-05-13T11:50:00.002-05:00

"Mine eye affecteth mine heart . . ."

Lamentations 3:51

Pictured above: Jewel Schuurmans

In Missouri {Thinking on Wisdom}

2011-05-11T01:36:00.001-05:00

"Children have no understanding of what is good for them and will sample anything. Their mouths are constantly wide open, eager to taste and to eat anything that looks good to their untrained eyes. It is only with maturity that children learn what is truly good for them and what is not. Only with maturity will children learn that what looks good may not truly be good. Children need to learn to differentiate between what will hurt then and what will make them healthy. Eventually they learn to discriminate; they learn to discern. In the same way, mature Christians have learned to differentiate between what is pleasing to God and what is not, between what is consistent with Scripture and what is not. The Bible places great emphasis on spiritual maturity because, like children, immature believers are prone to sample anything. They are attracted to what looks good to their untrained eyes. Only as they grow in maturity are they able to differentiate between what pleases God and what does not. Because of this there can be no growth without discernment."

-Tim Challies, The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment

Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart ...

that I may discern between good and bad:

I Kings 3:9a

Welcome Home, Stephen!!

2011-05-08T20:35:00.002-05:00

After 4 years of service in the Army - serving as a UAV pilot everywhere from Texas and Arizona to Germany and Afghanistan, "Sergeant Schuurmans" has officially completed his term and is home!! We are so grateful to the Lord for his protection, proud of Stephen for helping protect our country, and GLAD to have him back safe and sound! Yesterday, our family held a welcome home party for him, and many friends, old and new, were able to come and express their appreciation for him.

We love to open our home to others and we always have such a great time with everybody: grilling out, playing volleyball (Take a nice, relaxing look at when I snapped a picture of the volleyball game... this is probably the only time there were 4ish people a side. Typically, we're tripping all over the ball and eachother's shoes...), frisbee golf, basketball, doing wild tricks with the ropes in the barn (you'd have to be there...) talking together and enjoying good food. Melissa put together a great slideshow for everybody to see some of where Stephen's been these past 4 years, and a little of what his job has been like. We also had a treasure hunt for all the "littler" kids this time. :)

In case you were wondering what our family was standing around in the first picture - it was this awesome cake that a family generously brought.

In fact, generosity is a trait a lot of people in our church exemplify. The men all put their wallets together to present Stephen with a brand new .22 rifle!

Dad, welcoming Stephen back, expressing appreciation for his dedication and character, and verbally recognizing that though we war with our hands, it is GOD who fights for and through us, protects, blesses and guides us.

Admiring certain other "happenings" of the day... ;)

What would these events be without all the helpful little bubbly blue-eyed, wide-eyed, lemonade-stained kiddos running around?!

Hannah Hanson is to thank for a great deal of all these lovely photos. :)

Words are powerful, powerful things. When they are used well, what a tremendous source of encouragement they can be for years to come! "I would be true for there are those who care..."

Welcome home, Stephen!

Blessed be the LORD my strength,

which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
Psalm 144:1

Radiant Purity Conference in Pictures

2011-05-03T15:04:00.004-05:00

Since I can't possibly describe for you all that was packed into our time in Arkansas, I'm going to let pictures do most of the talking this time. :)

In between conferences, we were all blessed by the Duggar's hospitality!

It was interesting showing up with TLC and Good Morning America there ... we all were asked to sign release papers for their filming.

It happened to be Jason's birthday as well. :)

Back to conference work the next day!

During our first session, sirens went off, and we evacuated the entire sanctuary, due to two tornados on the ground. The building we were in was right in the path of one of the tornados, and I believe it got within a mile before turning northeast! It was a close call, but also encouraging to watch as nearly 400 men, women and children were united in prayer and song, trusting the Lord to protect us - and He did!

The rooms were very full as we waited!

The handful of fathers who were there helped keep watch.

A beautiful sunset after the storm had passed. :)

Sarah giving a chalk talk.

A French crew came in to film the conference, since the Duggar girls were attending ...

(Illustrating the protection of staying under our parent's authority.)

Come, Lord Jesus!

2011-04-29T20:27:00.002-05:00

To wait is not merely to remain impassive. It is to expect -- to look for with patience, and also with submission. It is to long for, but not impatiently; to look for, but not to fret at the delay; to watch for but not restlessly; to feel that if He does not come, we will acquiesce, and yet to refuse to let the mind acquiesce in the feeling that He will not come.

Dr. A B Davidson (waiting on God)

Memories

2011-04-28T21:17:00.003-05:00

A memory! Already . . . traveling to Arkansas for Strong in the Lord and Radiant Purity conferences is a memory. How can that be? So much prayer, so much study, so many hours on the road, so much anticipation and then --- woosh! Just like that and we've all returned to our various and sundry homes and are thrust back into the daily grind, trying to let all that we learned soak deeply into our hearts.

Soak deeply. I remember my dad holding up a chunk of wood for all of us kids to see one Summer day years ago. It wasn't/isn't uncommon for him to have an object lesson to go along with our "wisdom searches", and this time he had a section of a bridge plank that had been soaked in creosote. Creosote is an oily liquid made from coal and wood tar, and is used mainly as a preservative for wood, in order to make it last a very long time. He had cut a cross section into the plank and let us all look at it.

When we saw the piece of wood, we realized that the creosote, though smothering the wood on the outside, had only sunk in to the wood partially. It didn't reach deeply; it didn't soak far at all! The creosote was almost entirely external. Dad then went on to say how sometimes we are like that bridge plank; how often the things that God desires to reach down into our hearts and remain there, barely even touch the surface.

One of the things I pray for desperately is that the young ladies (particularly those in my small groups who are especially on my mind!), mothers (and fathers!) who come would not simply experience a "spiritual high" at these conferences, only to return home and forget or loose their enthusiasm for what the Lord impressed upon them to live out, but that the work, the words, the prayers would reach deeper and deeper into all of our lives until it becomes a part of who we are.

More pictures to come!

Hello from Arkansas!

2011-04-22T15:07:00.001-05:00

Just a little post to encourage those of you who are praying for the Bright Lights Conferences to keep on praying! :) The Lord certainly poured out a huge measure of blessing on the Strong in the Lord conference Tuesday and Wednesday, and we are praying for an equal amount on involvement from Him as we prepare for the Radiant Purity conference starting tonight! I have well over a thousand images from the STIL conference alone, and way more to go, so stay tuned for more updates. :)

Strength in Sacrifice

2011-04-15T10:16:00.000-05:00

Measure thy life by loss instead of gain;

Not by the wine drunk, but the wine poured forth;

And whoso suffers most, hath most to give.

J. Hudson Taylor

Phone Diaries

2011-04-12T10:34:00.002-05:00

It's not always practical to lug around a camera case that's about half as big as me all the time, so I'm trying to make better use of my phone's abilities and capture some of the in-between moments of life. :)

Please be praying for all the young ladies who have begun diligently practicing passages of Scripture in preparation for Scripture Memory Challenges IX and X. It's amazing to me how when I determine to memorize a certain portion of Scripture, a plethora of distractions seem to divide every waking thought! Pray that all of us would be able to set aside time specifically for this purpose of laying up God's Word in our hearts, that we would reach a deeper understanding of these verses and that we would be blessed with enthusiasm and endurance as we reach the goal set before us.

This time around, some of us are employing the use of flash cards to aid us in memorizing! They're pretty handy to slip into your purse or pocket wherever you go, and they help emphasize the connecting of each reference with its coordinating verse.

Last night, we were at the Union Gospel Mission in Sioux Falls, and what a privilege it was!

Sorry for the blurry images ... apparently I'm not so good at inconspicuously taking outstanding images with my phone. :)

For weeks, as I've been thinking about and praying for these homeless men and women, I've been meditating on Matthew 11:28, where Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (One of the verses for our upcoming challenge!) Another verse I thought of yesterday was Luke 9:58:

And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests;

but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

We as Christians are much like the homeless who gather at missions such as these. This world is not our home. We are strangers, pilgrims. Not supposed to be popular, not supposed to fit in, not supposed to do the things everyone else does or be entertained with the same things everyone else is.

Rise up, O men of God!

Have done with lesser things.

Give heart and mind and soul and strength

To serve the King of kings.

William P. Merrill

Testifying through Relationships

2011-04-10T20:57:00.000-05:00

I love singing together as a family; I love ministering as a family! Every single person brings a unique contribution to the task at hand with different talents, ideas, motivational gifts and personalities. When we learn to dwell with our siblings in harmony, and honor and submit to our parents joyfully, we are developing the kind of character that will bless all kinds of future life relationships. It starts in the home!

One thing my mom used to tell me often was, "Always assume you're being watched." People do notice how you treat your little sister(s) and whether or not you show respect to your brother(s). They will notice how quickly you obey your parents, and what face expression you make as you turn around. Testifying to others is so much more than singing or teaching! When I think back on various conferences I've attended, I usually can't remember exactly what was taught, but rather what the person was like who taught it. I remember their countenance as they spoke about the Lord, I remember discerning their level of sincerity as I observed personal life standards they took upon themselves; I watched for fruit. It means very little to sing and talk about the love of Christ to others, if we do not demonstrate it by lovingly interacting with each other.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,

if ye have love one to another.

John 13:35

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, . . .

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Ephesians 5:19

Video: Abide With Me

2011-04-03T16:14:00.000-05:00

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A couple of weeks ago, some friends and I were able to get into this beautiful, regal church building downtown for a photoshoot! In a church as beautiful as this one, it's hard not to be worshipful and reverent, and we really appreciated the opportunity to get in. :)

Henry F. Lyte (the composer of the words for Abide with Me ~ here arranged with Liszt's Etude un Sospiro by Myra Schubert) lived in similarly beautiful surroundings - an elegant estate, reportedly provided by King William IV who had been impressed with Henry's ministry. Henry was a vicar in the fishing villiage of Lower Brixham, Devonshire, England, where he ministered to sea-faring people for 23 years. As tranquil as the coastal views were among the British Isles, Lower Brixham had damp winters, and Henry suffered from a a lung disorder that deteriorated into tuberculosis. On September 4, 1847, age 54, he preached his last sermon. That afternoon he walked along the coast in pensive prayer, went to his room and, an hour later, brought out a written copy of "Abide With Me".

It is likely that he had prayerfully revised and completed that afternoon, what was started many years before. On November 20, 1847, the day after his revision, he left for Italy to regain his health. He didn't make it though; his phthisic lungs finally gave out and he died in Nice, France, three weeks after writing these words. When the news of his death reached Brixham, the fishermen of the village asked Henry's son-in-law, also a minister, to hold a memorial service. It was on this occasion that "Abide With Me" was first sung.

For over a century, the bells of Henry Lyte's church in Devonshire, have rung out “Abide with Me” daily. The hymn was sung at the weddings of King George VI and of his daughter, the future Queen Elizabeth II, as well as at the funeral of Nobel peace prize winner Mother Teresa of Calcutta in1997.

In defense of my poor playing, this was a piece I hadn't yet polished (obviously) and I wasn't really giving it my full attention, especially since I didn't know Hannah was recording! But I'm glad she got this little video while Daniel did his thing, and I hope you'll enjoy it. :)

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;

The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.

When other helpers fail and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.

What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?

Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?

Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;

Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.

Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;

In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

How to Witness When You're Nervous

2011-03-29T17:36:00.005-05:00

I have a secret to share with you.

Don’t you just love it when bloggers say that? Like it's really a secret now! But, it does make things sound more intriguing, so please come step inside my little circle of 2 billion potential readers on this world-wide web and, together, let's dismiss the lie that:

you have to be a Spiritual Giant to effectively share Christ with someone.

1. Remember there is no temptation taken you but such as is common to man!

A common temptation for Christians is to be fearful - fearful of what others will think of us, or fearful we won't remember what to say when the pressure is on. I know what it’s like to be in the heat of the spotlight and have all good and dear memory wiped clean. Seriously. Ask the re-assuring, sweetheart of a judge who patiently endured more tears than notes as I fumbled my shivering little fingers all over her piano. Ask a few of my friends (that still claim me) after attending a recital I participated in when I was a spindly little daydreaming 14-year-old. Actually, don’t do that, please. :) Truth is, when we’re stretching our limits and stepping outside of our comfort zone, being overcome with fear is a common setback, and I believe it has crippled many an opportunity for souls to hear about Jesus. We’re afraid of forgetting something, anything, everything! Sharing the Gospel may feel somewhat intimidating when we are both learning more about Christianity ourselves all the time (as we should) and aren’t very used to sharing the Scriptures with somebody. Am I right? Well we have to start somewhere!

2. Recognize God arranges divine encounters.

I took my place in an airplane next to a woman a few years ago who looked like she was somewhere in her mid-40’s. She had bouncy, curly dark brown hair and a vivacious, friendly personality to match. But her eyes were deep and troubled, and behind her bubbly conversation I discerned a confused and searching spirit, similar to those who asked in Psalm 4:6, "Who will shew us any good?" As novice as I felt in the area of witnessing, I knew this was a divine encounter.

3. Make sharing the Gospel a conversation, not a presentation.

This lady beside me began to read a book I had, in God’s providence, heard a talk-show host discuss just prior to my trip. I had heard enough of it to have a number of cautions against endorsing the material, but also knew that it could lead to talking about the Lord, were I to inquire after her reading choice. A sweeping, gut-wrenching “I’m supposed to witness to this person beside me” conviction suddenly flooded over me and swarmed up enough words to spark up a conversation. The lady, in response, began to describe what her book was about and how wonderful it was, describing how a man “found God” in a somewhat creepy, out-of-body experience. I smiled and nodded and asked, “What do you think it means to find God?” She wasn’t really sure how to answer, but described how she had explored various religions such as Catholic, Lutheran, and Jehovah’s Witness. In spite of all her religious pursuits, she was without answers to the plethora of questions that only continued to grow in intensity as she did in age.

4. Think smarter, not harder.

Bible references were escaping me, and I didn’t have just the right words to say, but my belief that this was a divine encounter was only confirmed when I discovered in my carryon a torn piece of notebook paper with a list of verses I had been working on memorizing! They were organized, under categories such as “Salvation”, “Love”, “Hell”, and “Heaven”. Pulling the paper out, I asked her if she would like to look at some Scriptures with me. She was intrigued and heartily agreed. She then began to point towards this or that category, and I would look up the corresponding verses, stopping to describe what they meant, and answering her questions as best as I could. If you have a hard time remembering references when you're nervous, carrying a similar card or piece of paper with you would be a great idea!

Another things you can do is “map” our your Bible. For example, if you can just remember to start with a verse such as Romans 3:23, than write beside that verse another one to flip to, such as Romans 6:23. Next to Romans 6:23, you could write Romans 5:8, and besides Romans 5:8, write Romans 10:9-10 and so on, using whatever path you choose through the Scriptures in order to share the entire Gospel without the pressure of forgetting what to say!

5. Let God's Word do the work.

Her heart was full! We talked and talked over the Gospel and the Bible, and she even enquired after the end times. Again in God’s Providence, I had come across an old chart in my room before packing for my trip, which laid out the order of events described in Revelation. I was about to set it aside as soon as I discovered it, but then pulled it back, and read the paper over first. Had I not reviewed those notes again, I truly believe I would not have been able to describe to her with nearly the same measure of clarity what the Scriptures have to say about Jesus’s return! The lady was very intrigued with the topic, and so I asked if she would like me to read to her from the book of Revelation. She did, and her interest remained captured – not in me or what I was saying, but by the power of hearing the Word of God. Isaiah 55:11 says, "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

The spotlight is not on us, it is on the Scriptures. The fate of a soul does not rest on our ability to present logic or spin words and arguments craftily – it is the Word of God which is "quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God!

Just as we were wrapping our conversation up and I placed my Bible back in my carryon, the pilot said over the intercom, “Good afternoon, ladies and gentleman. I would like to be the first to welcome you to . . . ” . We had spent almost the entire flight talking about the Lord! I soon discovered that she, her husband, and their two friends were flying to Florida for none other reason but to relax and read. She asked what Bible I would suggest she purchase once she landed. I prompted her to begin reading in the book of John during her vacation and thought how wonderful God is, to arrange to the two of us to sit together before she even set foot in Florida to begin her vacation of nothing but reading; Her heart was full of The Word, and her reading material redirected towards the Gospel! Praise the Lord He uses imperfect people to reach imperfect people.

Join Me in Prayer!

2011-03-25T08:52:00.000-05:00

In less than a month, I will (Lord willing) be traveling to Rogers, Arkansas to help with the Strong in the Lord and Radiant Purity conferences! Click here for more information.

Ladders And I Aren't Getting Along

2011-03-08T15:33:00.002-06:00

The ladder in the hallway and I keep haphazardly meeting each other.

Actually, I keep meeting it.

It's starting to feel like a routine: brush teeth, wash face, run into ladder. Brush teeth, wash face, run into ladder. You would think that (a.) I'd move the ladder to prevent further injury, (b.) I would eventually realize the ladder is there and walk around it in the future, or (c.) I would forgo a little personal hygiene in exchange for less damaging side effects. But, no, I brush my teeth, wash my face and walk smack dab into the bright orange ladder leaning against the partisan hallway wall.

First time it happened, I squealed, jumped and hobbled around like a 3-legged cat until Lucas opened his door and asked if I was alright (why do people ask that??). The second time I waltzed into the useful little utility, I flung back, somewhat aghast. The gall of that ladder being there again! I felt somewhat perturbed at it this time and mumbled something to dad about what was left of my big toe. The third time I slammed into the ladder, I paused - stunned I'd done it again - and then keeled over in uncontrollable laughter. Still jibbering and giggling as I tripped down the stairs, Jewel stood perfectly composed in front me, speechless. She held a somewhat concerned face expression for a moment.

I know I am not the only one who uses that restroom. There are, after all, 5 other people in this house! Why then am I the only one with this trouble? (This is a rhetorical question, ok?)

Recently there has been more than a ladder in my life into which I keep running. When there is something a person struggles with, he usually don't struggle with it just once, overcome it and then move on. The temptation comes back again. And again. Sometimes it comes back again and again and again until a person is so dizzy fighting his own flesh he can despair for want of permanent victory! Be not weary in well doing.

As I lay in bed one night, I began to pray, "Father, thank yo-"

"Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" [Luke 6:46] I stopped talking.

"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." [Prov. 28:13]

I twitched a little and felt that knotted feeling in my gut that comes when I know I need to make something right, but desperately don't want to - not only because it's humbling, but because I've already had to apologize for this before! Having to go back again and again to my parents hurts me, because it hurts them. And yet - no matter how many times we sin, sin is sin is sin. And unconfessed sin in our lives will kill our power as a Christian! A clear conscience and accountability are absolutely VITAL to a Christian life. Can you swallow guilt and move on? Yes. But it will be the death of you. The death of your spiritual life, anyway! When we loose our sensitivity to sin, we loose our sensitivity to the Lord.

I have to ask myself, "Is it worth it? Is hiding past failure really worth forfeiting future
success?" I mean, really, what's the worst thing that can happen if I apologize to someone? They could kill me, I suppose! But even that wouldn't be so bad, because I'd now have a clear conscience and would be ready to meet the Lord! :)

James 1:22 says,

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.

Don't give up on doing what's right.

Defend yourself as many times as you're attacked with temptation.

Get up every time you fall down.

And get rid of the ladder.

Word Study: Impossible

2011-03-01T10:35:00.004-06:00

A man's limitations are not the things he wants to do and can't;

they are the things he ought to do but doesn't.

The difficult we will do eventually,

the impossible will just take a little more time.

- Unknown

While on the way to town to run some errands, I was talking to Mom about impossibilities. Several hours later, on our way back home, she had me flip through a recent purchase of hers: an 832-page, hard-covered book entitled, "Family Guide to the Bible". I opened it randomly, and of all the pages I could have turned to, it was page 387 - which read, "IMPOSSIBLE". I laughed at the irony and began to look up the passages of Scripture listed under the word.

After using Strong's and Young's Concordances, I discovered that when "impossible" is used in the New Testament, it is being translated from 1 of 3 Greek words: aduna (or adunateo which is from adunatos), adunatos and anend.

Aduna means to be powerless, weak or impotent and is the word used in Luke 1:37 and Matthew 17:20:

Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be aduna [impotent: unable to take effective action; helpless or powerless].
Matthew 17:19-20 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be aduna unto you [you will not be powerless: without ability, influence, or power].

Adunatos means powerless, weak, or impossible and is the word used in Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27, Luke 18:27, Hebrews 6:4-6, Hebrews 6:17-18 and Hebrews 11:6.

Matthew 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is adunatos [impossible: not able to occur, exist, or be done]; but with God all things are possible.

Mark 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is adunatos [impossible: not able to occur, exist, or be done], but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Luke 18:27 And he said, The things which are adunatos [impossible: not able to occur, exist, or be done] with men are possible with God.

Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is adunatos [powerless: without ability, influence, or power] for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Hebrews 6:17-18 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was adunatos [impossible: not able to occur, exist, or be done] for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is adunatos [impossible: not able to occur, exist, or be done, powerless: without ability, influence, or power; weak: lacking the power] to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Anend means not to be received or not to be accepted and is the word used in Luke 17:1.

Luke 17:1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is anend [not to be received: suffered or experienced] but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

5 Blessings of Being the Youngest Sibling

2011-02-20T20:08:00.001-06:00

Often the youngest siblings can feel underprivileged as the youngest person in the family. They may be called the "baby" of the family, maybe they don't seem to get as much respect, they can't "boss" anyone in their home, therefore probably giving the feeling they either aren't as important or as responsible. I know -- I am the youngest in our family!

Or, my little sister is, anyway. Jewel speaks from experience about what it can feel like to be the youngest in a family and then encourages other people in her position to see the silver lining! Click here to read what she has to say.

A New Understanding of Proverbs 17:5

2011-02-16T21:50:00.000-06:00

Recently, while driving me home, Dad asked, "What do you think it means to mock the poor? Have you ever experienced a situation where others were mocking them? . . . Who do you think the poor really are?"

Since mocking the poor is considered a reproach to God, it would certainly be helpful to our walk with Christ to consider what mocking really means and who the word 'poor' is referring to!

Although it is clear in the Scriptures that God has compassion on the poor in the more literal sense of the word, I came to understand that the word "poor" is not limited to finances. After all, people can be poor in looks, cant they? How about poor in talent? Or maybe poor in favorable circumstances? As I applied a more liberal definition of one being poor, the Lord opened my eyes to how the respect of persons (perhaps unwittingly out of our natural tendency to make presumptions) is abundant in these times, and how it is likewise an insult to the Creator! After all, is God not the Designer of one's physical features? Did He not providentially bestow on this or that person a certain amount of talent - or lack thereof? Is He not intimately involved in the earthly rewards of His children?

To mock those things that God has designed, provided and allowed, is to despise [shrink in value] His perfect wisdom, authority and sovereignty.

"Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker."

Proverbs 17:5

On the Road {2011 Conferences}

2011-02-11T21:18:00.000-06:00

View 2011 Conferences in a larger map

It has been so exciting to see the Lord open doors for 2011! One of the opportunities I am most looking forward to is traveling with Bright Lights for their conferences this year. God truly blessed my time in Iowa last August at the Strong in the Lord/Radiant Purity Conferences. So many girls. So many lives. So many vessels waiting to be filled and directed by the Holy Spirit. Such tremendous potential for the glory of God!

If you live near any of the cities marked above, I would be thrilled to meet you! Here are the conference dates and locations:

Rogers, AR: April 19^th - 20^th ; April 22^nd – 23^rd

Oshkosh, WI: July 5^th-6^th ; 8^th-9^th

Omaha, NE: July 12^th-13^th ; 15^th-16^th

Collegeville, PA: August 9^th-10^th ; 12^th-13^th

Willoughby Hills, OH: August 16^th-17^th ; 19^th-20^th

Minneapolis, MN: October 4^th - 5^th ; October 7^th - 8^th

More information about the Bright Lights ministry and conference details can be found here.